European ferro-titanium producers have started negotiations for deliveries of the alloy to consumers in the steel sector between April and June, and while no prices have yet been discussed, an acute shortage of titanium scrap will be a key issue for suppliers, producers told Fastmarkets this week.
Ferro-titanium producers have been holding back from securing new deals for their intake of scrap and other feed sources, such as titanium sponge, until their quarterly supply deals with steel mills are settled. Some ferro-titanium tenders were expected to be settled before April, with the rest done early in that month, sources said."We have no sales to report yet, mostly due to a lack of availability from us. The scrap turnings shortage goes on and there seems to be an increasing shortage...