TITANIUM

Overview Titanium minerals of economic importance include ilmenite, leucoxene and rutile. As a metal, titanium is well known for corrosion resistance and for its high strength-to-weight ratio. Approximately 90 percent of titanium is consumed in the form of titanium dioxide (TiO2), a white pigment in paints, paper and plastics. TiO2 pigment is characterized by its purity, refractive index, particle size and surface properties. Figure 1 Average annual prices (unit values) for ilmenite, rutile and titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigments 2012– 2022. Figure 2 Average annual prices (unit values) for titanium metal sponge and titanium scrap 2012–2022. Table 1 World titanium mineral concentrates production. Production In 2022, global production of titanium mineral concentrates was estimated to be 9.5 Mt of contained TiO2, unchanged from that in 2021 (Table 1 and 2). Less than 10 percent of global production was attributed to natural rutile. Rounded to one significant digit, U.S. production of titanium concentrates was estimated to be 200 kt of contained TiO2. In the United States, The Chemours Co. produced titanium mineral concentrates at mining operations near Starke, FL and Offerman, GA. In California, Twin Pines Minerals LLC reprocessed mine tailings to produce mixed mineral concentrates containing titanium and zirconium. TiO2 pigment production in the United States in 2022 was estimated to be 1.1 Mt, unchanged from that in 2021, with domestic consumption estimated to have been 940 kt in 2022, an increase from 857 kt in 2021. U.S. producers of TiO2 pigment, all of which used the chloride process, were Chemours, INEOS Pigments USA Inc., Louisiana Pigment Co. L.P., and Tronox Ltd. Global titanium metal sponge production in 2022, excluding the United States where production data were withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data, was estimated to have increased to 260 kt from 240 kt in 2021 (Table 3). In the United States, titanium sponge metal was produced by Honeywell Electronic Materials Inc. in Utah. The 500- t/a Utah plant supported production of high-purity titanium in Fombell, PA. Table 2 World rutile production, in kt of TiO2 equivalent. Table 3 World titanium sponge metal production, estimated, in kt. Foreign trade Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2022, the United States was import reliant for titanium mineral concentrates (ilmenite, rutile and titaniferous slag). U.S. imports were 935 kt based on estimated TiO2 equivalent, and the leading import sources were South Africa (34 percent), Madagascar (18 percent), and Australia, Canada and Mozambique (9 percent each). The United States was a net exporter of TiO2 pigments. In 2022, U.S. exports of TiO2 pigments were 350 kt based on TiO2 equivalent with the majority of these exports going to Mexico (28 percent), Belgium (22 percent) and Canada (14 percent). The United States was a net importer of titanium sponge metal and imported 31 kt of sponge in 2022. The leading import sources of titanium sponge in 2022 were Japan (82 percent), Kazakhstan (10 percent) and Saudi Arabia (7 percent). Prices Based on U.S. imports for consumption from the U.S. Census Bureau, the average annual prices (unit values) for ilmenite ($285/t) and rutile ($989/t) increased by 18 percent and 17 percent, respectively, in 2022 compared with those in 2021. U.S. import and export prices for TiO2 pigments increased by 16 percent each (Fig. 1). The average annual price for titanium sponge metal imported from Japan ($8.78/kg) decreased by 6 percent and the average annual titanium scrap import price ($7.73/kg) increased by 67 percent compared with those in 2021 (Fig. 2). Outlook Consumption of titanium pigments in paints and coatings, paper and plastics links to global economic trends. According to the World Bank, the global economic growth rate was expected to slow to 1.7 percent in 2023, one of weakest rates in three decades. Consumption of titanium metal is primarily linked to aerospace demand. According to the International Air Transport Association, airline industry passenger traffic was expected to recover to its 2019 levels in 2024, and then grow at an annual average rate of around 3 percent. The lingering effects of the global pandemic, increased financial market volatility and the conflict in Ukraine may affect titanium metal supply and demand.

TITANIUM

Authored by:
Joseph Gambogi

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