Global titanium production
As of 2022, the total global production volume of ilmenite amounted to an estimated 8.9 million metric tons of titanium dioxide equivalent, while rutile production amounted to an estimated 590,000 metric tons of titanium dioxide equivalent, amounting to a total global titanium production of 9.49 million metric tons. China dominates global titanium production overall, as the largest producer of ilmenite, titanium sponge, and titanium dioxide. Other leading titanium mineral producers are Mozambique, South Africa, Japan, Russia, and Australia, among others, depending on the specific mineral or form of titanium. Interestingly, most of the world’s titanium is produced in countries that are considered politically unstable.Global trade and prices of titanium products
The United States is the world’s largest exporter of titanium and articles thereof, while simultaneously being the world’s largest importer of another category of titanium: unwrought, waste or scrap, or powder. Meanwhile, China is the world’s largest exporter of titanium oxides and Germany is the largest importer of that product category. Because of the variety of titanium products on the market, prices for titanium are also varied. For instance, the Australian price of bulk rutile with a minimum titanium dioxide content of 95 percent, free on board, was 1,500 U.S. dollars per metric ton as of 2022, while the average unit value price of one metric ton of ilmenite imported to the U.S. was 290 U.S. dollars in the same year.
