Airbus can meet production targets despite Russian titanium constraints
Airbus’ plans to aggressively ramp up aircraft production are on track, despite new constraints on the global supply of Russian titanium, a critical metal for aerospace manufacturing. The European airframer quashed rumors that its A320 and A350 production increases will be delayed by titanium-supply issues. “We continue to assess the impact of the current situation in detail, but we do not see any issue in the short to medium term,” an Airbus spokesperson said. “Regardless, we are accelerating our efforts to secure alternative sources of supply.” Airbus previously indicated that it sourced as much as half of its titanium needs from Russia. It continues to buy the metal from the country. “Airbus is directly sourcing titanium from Russia as well as from other countries, and indirectly sourcing it from Tier 1 suppliers,” the spokesperson said. “This is done in accordance with all sanctions and applicable export control regulations in place.” Airbus plans to increase production of its A320 family to 65 aircraft per month by the middle of next year, an aggressive target that analysts and even Air Lease Corp. Executive Chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy have questioned. Last year, analysts pointed to other supply chain problems, not least of which were staffing issues at the airframer’s suppliers. But CEO Guillaume Faury stood by the company’s targets and said Airbus can deliver 20 percent more aircraft this year compared with last year. “We are ready,” he said in February before the conflict began. Before the war in Ukraine, Russia provided up to 20% of the world’s raw titanium, and VSMPO-AVISMA is the world’s largest producer of the metal for the aerospace industry. Before the conflict, Boeing and VSMPO-AVISMA were in a joint venture to provide part of the US airframer’s titanium requirements. But European, Japanese, and US sanctions have prompted aerospace firms to avoid Russian supplies of the metal in order to comply with broader sanctions. China, Japan, Kazakstan, and the US produce the balance of the world’s supply of titanium.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2022-04-06/general/airbus-can-meet-production-targets-despite-russian-titanium-constraints
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Airbus can meet production targets despite Russian titanium constraints
Airbus’ plans to aggressively ramp up aircraft production are on track, despite new constraints on the global supply of Russian titanium, a critical metal for aerospace manufacturing. The European airframer quashed rumors that its A320 and A350 production increases will be delayed by titanium-supply issues. “We continue to assess the impact of the current situation in detail, but we do not see any issue in the short to medium term,” an Airbus spokesperson said. “Regardless, we are accelerating our efforts to secure alternative sources of supply.” Airbus previously indicated that it sourced as much as half of its titanium needs from Russia. It continues to buy the metal from the country. “Airbus is directly sourcing titanium from Russia as well as from other countries, and indirectly sourcing it from Tier 1 suppliers,” the spokesperson said. “This is done in accordance with all sanctions and applicable export control regulations in place.” Airbus plans to increase production of its A320 family to 65 aircraft per month by the middle of next year, an aggressive target that analysts and even Air Lease Corp. Executive Chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy have questioned. Last year, analysts pointed to other supply chain problems, not least of which were staffing issues at the airframer’s suppliers. But CEO Guillaume Faury stood by the company’s targets and said Airbus can deliver 20 percent more aircraft this year compared with last year. “We are ready,” he said in February before the conflict began. Before the war in Ukraine, Russia provided up to 20% of the world’s raw titanium, and VSMPO-AVISMA is the world’s largest producer of the metal for the aerospace industry. Before the conflict, Boeing and VSMPO-AVISMA were in a joint venture to provide part of the US airframer’s titanium requirements. But European, Japanese, and US sanctions have prompted aerospace firms to avoid Russian supplies of the metal in order to comply with broader sanctions. China, Japan, Kazakstan, and the US produce the balance of the world’s supply of titanium.<br/>
