In the first seven months of 2024, Russia exported over $120 million worth of titanium, with a third of shipments going to France. Simultaneously, the country imported nearly $126 million worth of titanium raw materials, 52% of which were supplied by China.
Titanium remains essential for Russia’s defense industry, playing a key role in weapons manufacturing. Missile warheads and the casings for solid-fuel engines are constructed using titanium ingots. This highlights the strategic importance of titanium in sustaining Russia’s military capabilities.
In 2023, China held the largest global reserves of titanium minerals, followed by Mozambique, South Africa, and Australia. Russia, despite having 14.5% of the world’s titanium reserves, contributes just 0.03% to global titanium concentrate production due to the challenging geological conditions of its deposits. As a result, Russia depends heavily on imports of raw titanium, primarily from China.
France alone accounted for a third of Russia’s titanium exports in 2024, with other shipments going to countries like the UAE, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Estonia, and Singapore. Customs data shows that from January to July 2024, Russia’s imports and exports of titanium products were nearly equal in value—$125.8 million in imports and $120 million in exports. More than half of Russia’s titanium imports during this period came from China.
Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and global geopolitical tensions, both the West and Russia have been reluctant to sever titanium trade ties. Western countries, particularly in the aerospace sector, face challenges in quickly replacing Russian titanium, which historically supplied a third of the market. Meanwhile, Russia remains critically dependent on raw material imports.
The Case for Targeted Sanctions
The continued trade in titanium underscores the need for stronger sanctions against companies that still support Russia, directly or indirectly, through trade. Every transaction with Russia’s titanium industry enables its defense sector to maintain military operations, including aggression in Ukraine. To curb Moscow’s military capabilities effectively, international sanctions must extend to entities facilitating raw material trade and technological support.
Countries and corporations must prioritize ethical business practices over economic interests, ensuring that no resources flow to industries contributing to Russia’s war machine. Enhanced sanctions targeting titanium-related trade could disrupt the Kremlin’s supply chain, limiting its ability to produce advanced weaponry and sustaining international pressure against its aggression.
The West and Russia Maintain Titanium Trade Despite the War
