REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 13 (Reuters) - China's titanium producers said on Wednesday they expect stronger demand for the lightweight metal after the launch of a new model of Apple's iPhone with a titanium shell.
China accounts for more than 60% of the 240,000 metric tons of titanium and titanium alloys produced globally each year, according to the CNIA.
A consumer product "monster" such as the iPhone would help bring wider adoption of titanium in new industries, replacing materials like stainless steel, he added.
The titanium shell on the new iPhone is made with an alloy known as Grade 5 Titanium that also contains small amounts of aluminium and vanadium, according to three Chinese titanium producers.
"There's a technical barrier to produce titanium alloys and international enterprises such as Apple require high standards.
Persons:
Stephanie Lecocq, Zhao Wei, Zhao, Foxconn, Ningwei Qin, Amy Lv, Siyi Liu, Dominique Patton, Sharon Singleton
Organizations:
Apple, REUTERS, Rights, China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, Ningwei, Thomson
Locations:
Lille, France, Rights BEIJING, China