TITANIUM AND TITANIUM DIOXIDE1/ (Data in metric tons, unless noted) Domestic Production and Use: Titanium sponge metal was produced by two firms in Nevada and Oregon. Ingot was made by the two sponge producers and by nine other firms in seven States. About 30 companies produced titanium forgings, mill products, and castings. In 1995, an estimated 65% of the titanium metal was used in aerospace applications. The remaining 35% was used in the chemical process industry, power generation, marine, ordnance, medical, and other nonaerospace applications. The value of sponge metal consumed was about $180 million, assuming an average selling price of $4.00 per pound. In 1995, titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment, valued at about $2.6 billion, was produced by 5 companies at 11 plants in 9 States. In 1995, TiO2 was used in paint, varnishes, and lacquers, 47%; paper, 24%; plastics, 18%; and other, 11%. Other uses of TiO2 included catalysts, ceramics, coated fabrics and textiles, floor coverings, printing ink, roofing granules and other. Salient Statistics--United States: 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995e/ Production, sponge 13,366 W W W W Imports for consumption, sponge 612 684 2,163 6,470 8,980 Exports, all metal forms 12,130 8,019 7,894 9,660 10,700 Shipments from Government stockpile excesses -- -- -- -- -- Consumption of sponge metal, reported 13,594 14,165 15,140 17,200 21,000 Price, sponge, reported sales, dollars per pound, yearend 4.75 3.75 3.75 4.00 4.00 Stocks, sponge, industry yearende/ 2,852 1,929 2,905 5,570 5,600 Employment, reduction plantse/ 850 350 350 300 300 Net import reliance,2/ sponge only, as a percent of apparent consumption 4 W W W W Titanium dioxide: Production 991,976 1,137,038 1,161,561 1,250,000 1,280,000 Imports for consumption 166,094 169,260 171,939 176,000 194,000 Exports 211,854 270,422 290,191 352,000 381,000 Consumption, apparent 936,000 1,000,000 1,030,000 1,100,000 1,090,000 Price, rutile, list, dollars per pound, yearend 0.99 0.94 0.94 0.93 0.96 Stocks, producer, yearend 72,108 108,173 123,079 106,000 111,000 Employmente/ 4,500 4,500 4,600 4,600 4,600 Net import reliance2/ as a percent of apparent consumption E E E E E Recycling: New scrap metal recycled by the titanium industry was about 20,000 tons in 1995. In addition, estimated use of titanium as scrap and in the form of ferrotitanium made from scrap by the steel industry was 4,700 tons; by the superalloy industry, 610 tons; and in other industries, 760 tons. Old scrap reclaimed was about 200 to 400 tons. Minor amounts of TiO2 were recycled. Import Sources (1991-94): Sponge metal: Russia, 67%; Japan, 18%; China, 6%; United Kingdom, 3%; Ukraine 3%; Former Soviet Union, 2%; and other, 1%. Titanium dioxide pigment: Canada, 32%; Germany, 14%; United Kingdom, 12%; France, 12%; and other, 30%. Tariff: Item Number Most favored nation (MFN) Non-MFN3/ 12/31/95 12/31/95 Waste and scrap metal 8108.10.1000 Free Free. Unwrought metal 8108.10.5000 15.0% ad val. 25.0% ad val. Wrought metal 8108.90.6000 15.0% ad val. 45.0% ad val. Titanium dioxide pigments 3206.10.0000 6.0% ad val. 30.0% ad val. Titanium oxides 2823.00.0000 6.0% ad val. 30.0% ad val. Depletion Allowance: Not applicable. Prepared by Joseph M. Gambogi, (703) 648-7718. TITANIUM AND TITANIUM DIOXIDE Government Stockpile: In addition to the quantities shown below, the stockpile contained 9,860 tons of nonstockpile-grade sponge metal. Stockpile Status--9-30-95 Uncommitted Committed Authorized Disposals Material inventory inventory for disposal Jan.-Sept. 95 Titanium sponge metal 23,600 -- -- -- Events, Trends, and Issues: Domestic production of titanium pigments was at a record level in 1995 and demand decreased slightly. A shift in the global supply demand scenario pushed demand closer to the available capacity resulting in moderate price increases. All of the major producers were in the process of expanding capacity. Restocking of inventories by the aerospace industry and moderate growth in nonaerospace markets caused a significant increase in the reported consumption of titanium sponge in 1995. As in 1994, imports of sponge from Russia constituted a substantial portion of total imports. Ingot production from titanium sponge and scrap also increased significantly. World Sponge Metal Production and Sponge and Pigment Capacity: Sponge production Capacity 1995 1994 1995e/ Sponge Pigment United States W -- 29,500 1,330,000 Australia -- -- -- 150,000 Belgium -- -- -- 80,000 Canada -- -- -- 74,000 Chinae 2,000 2,000 7,000 40,000 Finland -- -- -- 80,000 France -- -- -- 230,000 Germany -- -- -- 350,000 Italy -- -- -- 80,000 Japan 14,400 16,000 25,800 320,000 Kazakstane/ 5,000 5,000 35,000 1,000 Russiae 12,000 12,000 35,000 20,000 Spain -- -- -- 65,000 Ukrainee/ -- -- -- 120,000 United Kingdome/ -- -- -- 275,000 Other countries -- -- -- 585,000 World total (may be rounded) 4/ 33,000 4/ 35,000 130,000 3,800,000 World Resources: Resources of titanium minerals are discussed in the sections on ilmenite and rutile. Most titanium for domestic sponge production was obtained from rutile or rutile substitutes. The sources for pigment production were ilmenite, slag, and rutile. Substitutes: There are few substitutes for titanium in aircraft and space use without some sacrifice of performance. For industrial uses, high-nickel steel, zirconium, and, to a limited extent, the superalloy metals may be substituted. There is no cost-effective substitute for TiO2 pigment. e/Estimated. E Net exporter. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. 1/See also Ilmenite and Rutile. 2/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock changes. 3/See Appendix B. 4/Excludes U.S. production. Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996