SMM July 14: Sponge titanium prices remained stable today, with grade 1 sponge titanium quoted at 50,000-51,000 yuan/mt and grade 0 at 53,000-54,000 yuan/mt.
The sponge titanium market maintained stability recently. Weak demand from downstream titanium products led to sluggish new order placements, while low manufacturer inventories prevented deeper price declines. Short-term prices are expected to remain rangebound. Demand side, the titanium materials market showed divergent trends, with weak civilian demand dragging prices down. Specifically, hot-rolled titanium plates (3-8mm) were quoted at 64-66 yuan/kg, titanium welded pipes at 95-105 yuan/kg (down 5 yuan/kg from the previous workday), and pure titanium rods at 105-115 yuan/kg (also down 5 yuan/kg). Affected by delayed chemical project investments and other factors, demand remained sluggish, keeping titanium material prices at bottom consolidation levels. Raw material cost support limited manufacturers' price concessions, while growing military demand provided some support, resulting in an overall average price dilemma. Overall, the titanium market continued its supply-demand stalemate, with mediocre market sentiment as buyers and sellers mostly adopted a wait-and-see approach amid lack of clear direction. Prices are expected to remain in the doldrums with rangebound fluctuations in the near term.
