Since February last year, Western companies have purchased hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Russian titanium, bypassing sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation. This was reported by the Washington Post (WP), referring to a review of Russia’s export data for 2022 and 2023.
“Two years after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Russian titanium continues to flow to the West,” the headline reads.
According to the publication, Western countries remain dependent on Russia for a number of goods, despite promises to break economic ties with Moscow. When it comes to titanium, this dependence raises safety concerns because the metal is vital in the production of commercial and military aircraft, military and industry analysts say.
Thus, the Russian company VSMPO-Avisma (part of the state corporation Rostec), which is not subject to EU and US sanctions, exported titanium to Western countries in the amount of more than $ 300 million annually for two years in a row. At the same time, most of the supplies went to Western countries (England, USA, Germany and France) that supported Ukraine.
Michael Schollhorn, formerly CEO of Airbus Defense and Space statedThat Airbus will abandon Russian titanium in aircraft production.
Previously scientists from the Russian Federation and Israel developed Technology for processing aluminum, magnesium and titanium alloys.