Aerospace firm Safran boosts titanium stocks amid Ukraine crisis

PARIS (Reuters): French aerospace supplier Safran has enough titanium reserves that can last several months after increasing stocks of the metal since the beginning of the year, the company said Thursday.

Safran, which uses titanium to make landing gears for long-haul jetliners as well as some aero engine parts, depends on Russia for less than half its requirements, though Russia’s VSMPO-AVISMA corporation remains its largest single supplier.

“We have been watching this situation for several weeks and have decided since the start of the year to increase our stocks of titanium especially through distributors in Germany,” Chief Executive Olivier Andries told reporters.

The French company – together with General Electric co-owns the world’s largest jet engine manufacturer by units sold, CFM International – is also looking to diversify its sources of the metal.

Western aerospace companies that rely heavily on long-term supply contracts with VSMPO-AVISMA have been increasing buffer stocks in case the metal is thrust into a potential trade war between Russia and the West, experts said.