Analysis of China’s Titanium Processed Products Export Data for April 2026: High-End Products Lead the Way, While Titanium Tubes Demonstrate Strong Long-Term Resilience

Based on publicly available statistics from the General Administration of Customs, exports of forged and rolled titanium products faced downward pressure in the first quarter of 2026. However, by April, high-end, deeply processed titanium products gained momentum, completely reversing the earlier downturn. From January to April, the cumulative total of China’s processed titanium product exports reached approximately 3,335 tons, with significant structural differences in growth rates across categories: titanium bars and rods saw a modest cumulative increase of 1.96%, thick Titanium Plates rose by 24.33%, and titanium tubes surged by 36.14% year-over-year; Ordinary forged and rolled titanium products, hampered by the start of the year, saw an overall decline of 10%–20% from January to April. The market in April alone showed a marked divergence: year-on-year growth rates for titanium bars and rods and thick plates exceeded 55%, while titanium wire saw a sharp month-on-month surge. Although titanium tubes experienced a month-on-month decline, their long-term growth trend remains solid. The domestic titanium industry chain is accelerating its shift from exporting raw materials to exporting high-value-added finished products.

I. Summary of Key Export Data for Various Categories of Titanium Processed Products in April 2026

This summary compiles monthly export volumes, month-over-month and year-over-year changes, and cumulative growth for January–April, providing a clear illustration of the differences across product categories:

Overall, high-value-added midstream deep-processing products have become the core driver of export growth, while growth in low-end thin sheets has remained moderate. Titanium tubes represent a high-quality product category characterized by short-term adjustments and long-term high growth.

II. In-Depth Analysis of Sub-Categories

(1) Titanium Bars and Profiles: Year-over-Year Surge of 60%, Significant Success in Import Substitution

In April, exports of titanium bars and profiles reached 847 tons, surging 60.11% year-over-year and rising slightly by 4.44% month-over-month. This high growth stems from two key factors: first, the export base for April 2025 was only 529.261 tons, amplifying the year-over-year increase due to the low baseline; second, technological advancements within the Baoji Titanium Valley industrial cluster have significantly improved the yield rate, precision, and surface quality of bars and special-shaped profiles, continuously strengthening their international competitiveness.

A comparison with import data further highlights the industry’s transformation: during the same period, imports of similar products totaled only 136.542 tons, a sharp year-on-year plunge of 92.69%. The rapid contraction of imports and the expansion of exports have created a two-way squeeze. Local enterprises, represented by Shaanxi Qianyi Tuoda, are steadily supplying bulk shipments to markets such as India and Russia, with domestically produced titanium bars and profiles gradually replacing imported materials.

(2) Titanium Wire Sees Explosive Month-over-Month Growth

In April, monthly exports of titanium wire reached 161.898 tons, surging 258.45% month-over-month—the highest monthly growth rate in recent years. Titanium wire is a niche specialty product, with core demand concentrated in aerospace fasteners, medical implants, and precision structural components for 3C electronics. This surge stems from two key drivers: high-end manufacturing sectors in Europe and the U.S. have initiated a proactive restocking cycle, leading to a concentrated influx of overseas orders; and domestic titanium wire manufacturers have expanded their export channels to Southeast Asia, Europe, Japan, and South Korea, thereby enhancing their order fulfillment capacity.

After adjusting for the high base from the same period last year, actual shipment volumes in April 2026 fell within a healthy and reasonable range. From a long-term perspective, the recovery of global civil aviation, along with the expansion of the low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and humanoid robot industries, will continue to drive steady growth in titanium wire demand.

(3) Significant Differentiation Between Thick and Thin Titanium Sheets; Thick Sheets Drive Growth

The “hot for thick, cold for thin” trend in the titanium sheet market is very clear. Monthly exports of thin sheets (thickness ≤ 0.8 mm) totaled 173.354 tons, showing only a slight increase month-on-month and year-on-year. Downstream applications are primarily in consumer 3C products and small-to-medium-sized medical devices, with stable demand but no room for explosive growth;

Exports of thick plates (＞0.8mm) reached 770.863 tons, surging 54.51% month-on-month and 55.44% year-on-year, with a cumulative increase of 24.33% from January to April. Within overall domestic titanium consumption, the chemical industry accounts for 48.5% (73,200 metric tons) and aerospace for 21.3% (32,200 metric tons). Thick plates are core materials for chemical storage tanks, pressure vessels, and offshore equipment; the surge in exports directly confirms the recovery of overseas orders in the chemical and offshore engineering sectors.

(4) Titanium Tubes: Short-Term Month-on-Month Correction, but Cumulative Growth Leads All Categories

In April, monthly shipments of titanium tubes totaled 328 tons, a 23% month-on-month decline. However, the month-on-month growth rate remained at 18.84%, and the cumulative year-on-year growth for January–April reached 36.14%, making it the category with the strongest cumulative growth among all major product categories. Titanium tubes are used in seawater desalination, nuclear power heat exchange, highly corrosive chemical transport pipelines, and deep-sea platform piping. The monthly decline reflects only temporary fluctuations in the construction progress of overseas engineering projects; the overall demand for high-end overseas tubing remains robust. In the long term, global expansion of seawater desalination, new nuclear power plant construction, and green retrofits in the chemical industry will continue to support demand for titanium tube exports.

III. Industrial Chain Transformation: Shifting from Raw Material Exports to High-Value-Added Finished Products

Data from April 2026 clearly illustrates the upgrade trajectory of China’s titanium industry: while exports of low-end titanium raw materials from the upstream sector continue to contract, high-value-added processed products—such as titanium bars, rods, thick plates, and tubes—are experiencing explosive growth across multiple segments, with growth rates significantly outpacing those of raw materials, confirming a clear trend of value upgrading along the industrial chain.

The domestic market exhibits a stratified supply-demand landscape: upstream raw material costs are rising, midstream processors are holding firm on their pricing, and the downstream market is polarized—with robust demand in high-end sectors such as aerospace, defense, and medical applications, while demand in the general consumer market remains weak. Cost pressures have already been passed down the chain. On April 15, Baoji Heli issued a price increase notice, raising prices for seamless titanium tubes, welded tubes, plates, and strips by 2,000 yuan per ton, officially kicking off a price hike cycle in the processing sector.

Production capacity has kept pace with these developments. Baoji Titanium Valley has commissioned two new automated continuous rolling lines for foil, rod, and wire production. Automated production has steadily increased capacity and product consistency, laying a solid foundation for the large-scale export of rods, wires, and profiles.

Current Industry Challenges

1. Trade Policy Risks: U.S. tariff policies may be subject to adjustments, disrupting the global titanium supply chain and potentially suppressing titanium tube exports;
2. Cost Competition Pressure: Against the backdrop of rising raw material prices, companies must balance profits with the competitiveness of their overseas quotes;
3. Trade Friction Risks: The uncertainty surrounding overseas anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations persists;
4. Barriers to High-End Precision Titanium Tubes: Technical competition remains in overseas high-end markets for ultra-high-precision thin-walled heat exchanger titanium tubes and special alloy tubes.

Conclusion

Export data from April 2026 clearly demonstrates that China’s titanium processed products have moved beyond the low-end raw material export model. High-value-added products such as titanium tubes, thick plates, and titanium bars have become the pillars driving foreign trade growth, with titanium tubes maintaining the strongest cumulative growth rate across all product categories due to their broad range of applications.

ProX Metal has specialized in the custom processing of titanium foil, tubes, and plates for many years. We strictly control hydrogen content and oxidation defects in our tubing, ensuring a stable supply of TA1, TA2, and TC4 seamless and welded titanium tubes, as well as thick plates and bar stock. Our products meet export standards for the chemical, desalination, aerospace, and medical industries. Leveraging the geographical advantages of the Baoji industrial cluster, we can rapidly respond to bulk orders and sample requests from both domestic and international markets. By keeping pace with the global growth in high-end titanium material exports, we work hand in hand with our customers to build a stable, high-quality titanium supply chain system.