FE Mottram Ferro-Titanium Expansion Strengthens Baltic Scrap Processing Capacity

Mottram

FE Mottram ferro-titanium expansion is moving into a more important phase in Estonia. The company is installing titanium turnings roasters and ferro-titanium crushers sourced from the former TiVac facility in the UK. This equipment will strengthen titanium scrap processing and improve product preparation at its Ahtme plant. As a result, FE Mottram ferro-titanium expansion is becoming a meaningful development in the Baltic ferro-titanium market.

The first milestone is already complete. Mottram said the turnings roaster has been commissioned and fully tested. That unit removes oil contamination from titanium turnings before melting. Therefore, the new line should improve feed preparation and widen the plant’s scrap handling flexibility.

This matters because scrap quality directly affects melting efficiency and alloy consistency. The roaster also complements Mottram’s existing wash line, which is a more specialized and costly method for higher-grade scrap. Consequently, FE Mottram ferro-titanium expansion gives the company a more practical processing mix for different scrap streams.

Titanium Scrap Processing Gets More Flexible With New Roaster and Crushers

Titanium scrap processing is gaining more flexibility through the new equipment package. One additional crusher is already installed and operating, while two more are nearing commissioning. These crushers can size ferro-titanium into specific fractions such as 10-50mm lumps or 0-2mm powder. As a result, Mottram can improve product customization for different customer requirements.

The company is also benefiting from operational continuity with former TiVac expertise. Former TiVac director Richard Matthewman is advising Mottram in Estonia on scrap processing and ferro-titanium melting. That support matters because equipment transfer alone does not guarantee a smooth scale-up. Therefore, experience and technical know-how are helping reduce execution risk.

The project is not fully complete yet. Installation work has paused temporarily while UK technical specialists return home for a scheduled break. However, Mottram still expects all UK equipment to be fully installed and operational in early March. Meanwhile, that timeline suggests the company remains broadly on track.

FE Mottram Ferro-Titanium Expansion Could Lift Plant Readiness Beyond Current Capacity

FE Mottram ferro-titanium expansion also includes a broader capacity option. The Ahtme plant currently has nameplate capacity of 600 t/month. Mottram plans to commission an additional furnace transferred from the former Mottram/TiVac site at Oakes Green in May-June. That furnace could approximately double plant capacity if fully used.

However, the company’s current strategy is more cautious than aggressive. Mottram plans to reserve the extra furnace as a backup rather than immediately use it as primary expansion capacity. That decision suggests management is prioritizing reliability and operational security. As a result, FE Mottram ferro-titanium expansion looks disciplined rather than speculative.

This approach may prove commercially smart. In ferro-titanium and titanium scrap processing, equipment resilience can matter as much as maximum throughput. A backup furnace gives the plant more flexibility during maintenance, disruptions, or shifts in feedstock quality. Therefore, the company is building a stronger operating platform, not only chasing volume growth.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This project matters because it combines equipment transfer, technical continuity, and cautious capacity planning in one move. FE Mottram is not simply adding machinery. It is building a more flexible titanium scrap processing base that could strengthen its position in the regional ferro-titanium market.

FE Mottram Acquires Metals & Alloys International, Expanding Ferro-Titanium Market Share

Metraco

UK-Based Producer Expands Operations in Sheffield, Despite Market Challenges

UK-based ferro-titanium producer FE Mottram, a subsidiary of Belgian trading company Metraco, has successfully acquired Sheffield-based Metals & Alloys International (MAI). This acquisition boosts FE Mottram's position in the ferro-titanium market, aligning with its strategy to expand its market share in this niche industry.

MAI Continues Operations as a Subsidiary

Following the acquisition, MAI will continue to operate as a subsidiary of Mottram, maintaining its relationships with customers in the steel and cored-wire industries, as well as its raw material suppliers. Both companies will continue processing scrap and producing ferro-titanium at Tivac's two locations in Sheffield, ensuring a seamless transition.

Olivier Esquenet, director of Mottram, now holds the controlling interest and directorship of MAI. Graham Mee, MAI’s former co-owner and co-director, will remain on board as a director, along with Metraco's chief financial officer, Erwin Debaere. This leadership continuity is expected to help maintain stability during the integration process.

Combined Production Capacity and Market Challenges

The combined capacity of FE Mottram and MAI stands at 1,200 tonnes per month, but current capacity utilization is slightly over half due to market competition. The emergence of rebranded Russian ferro-titanium and weak demand from steel mills have contributed to these challenges. Despite this, the acquisition strengthens Mottram’s foothold in the ferro-titanium sector.

Mottram’s parent company, Metraco, also operates a ferro-titanium production facility in Ahtme, Estonia, known as Ti Q. However, Mottram did not acquire MAI's separate crushing facility, Alloy Masters, located in Telford. This facility remains under the ownership of Graham Mee and investor Richard Dajczak.

It is important to note that Metals and Alloys UK, a different company focused on scrap recycling, is not affected by this acquisition.

EU Ferro-Titanium Imports Fell to 2009 Low After Russian Ban

Ferro-Titanium

EU ferro-titanium imports fell to their lowest level since 2009 in 2025 after sanctions blocked Russian material from entering the bloc directly or through Baltic transit routes. EU countries imported 30,171t of ferro-titanium last year, down 36% from 47,296t in 2024.

The sharp decline showed how deeply the European ferro-titanium market had depended on Russian supply and Baltic logistics. Estonia, Poland, and Latvia together accounted for 12,830t of EU supply, but the structure of that supply changed significantly once Russian-origin ferro-titanium was barred.

EU ferro-titanium imports from Estonia halved on the year to 6,384t. The decline suggests that Estonian flows now more closely reflect local production rather than Russian material transiting through the country.

Sanctions Shifted Supply Toward Estonia, Poland and India

Estonia remained the EU’s largest ferro-titanium supplier in 2025, while Poland became the second-largest intra-EU source. Polish shipments rose by a quarter to 3,834t, showing that European buyers were turning more heavily to regional producers after the Russian ban.

Imports from the UK fell 27% to 3,468t after the closure of TiVac last summer. Most of TiVac’s former volumes are expected to shift to Estonia, where FE Mottram is scaling up operations in Ahtme, while Transition Metals continues to operate in the UK.

India became a larger alternative supplier as exports to the EU rose 171% to 2,310t. Turkey’s shipments also surged to 1,000t, although these flows remain unclear because Turkey is not a known ferro-titanium producer.

Russian ferro-titanium imports fell to just 463t in 2025 after full implementation of EU sanctions on Russian ferro-alloys in December 2024. Russian exports largely moved to Asia, with Chinese imports from Russia reaching a record 6,381t last year.

Russian Scrap Flows Rose Before Late-Year Slowdown

Titanium scrap became a temporary workaround because Russian titanium scrap was not covered by EU sanctions. EU imports of Russian scrap doubled to 2,517t in 2025, with 2,406t entering Estonia.

Estonia then re-exported 2,277t of titanium scrap last year, showing how scrap flows supported the regional ferro-titanium supply chain after the ban on Russian ferro-alloys. However, this trade also weakened sharply toward year-end, with EU imports falling to 36t in December and 37t in January 2026.

European ferro-titanium prices averaged $4.98-5.33/kg Ti dp/df Rotterdam in 2025, down 28% from 2024. Weak steel mill consumption kept prices under pressure for most of the year.

The market later rebounded from multi-year lows in December. Supply concerns linked to Latvian producer LLR-Ecotech first supported the recovery, before higher scrap costs allowed other producers to raise offers.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The EU ferro-titanium market is now being rebuilt around sanctions compliance, regional production, and scrap availability. The Russian ban reduced headline imports, but it also exposed Europe’s dependence on flexible titanium scrap flows and a small group of regional producers.

TiVac ferro-titanium liquidation reshapes UK titanium scrap and alloy supply

TiVac

TiVac ferro-titanium liquidation marks a major shift in UK ferro-titanium production and scrap demand. The TiVac ferro-titanium liquidation follows months of weak prices and high power costs that crushed already thin margins. As a result, the TiVac ferro-titanium liquidation will tighten local alloy supply while forcing scrap dealers to rethink export strategies.

TiVac ferro-titanium liquidation driven by power costs and weak prices

TiVac shut its Sheffield ferro-titanium operations because the UK cost base became unsustainable. Electricity costs stayed high while ferro-titanium prices slid toward five-year lows, leaving many contracts barely profitable. The company had nameplate capacity of 1,500 t/month, but operated closer to 500–600 t/month recently.

The TiVac ferro-titanium liquidation now triggers a full wind-down of production and scrap processing. All buildings, furnaces, crushers, equipment and land will be sold as part of the dissolution process. This closes two key Sheffield sites at Oakes Green and Blackburn Road, both long-standing hubs for processing titanium scrap into ferro-titanium.

TiVac operated under a conversion model for major traders and alloy specialists. It processed scrap and produced ferro-titanium for FE Mottram (now fully under Metraco), Metals and Alloys International, and Westbrook Light Alloys. However, this model could not withstand prolonged low prices and high UK input costs.

Supply shifts to Estonia as UK scrap faces pressure

Market logistics will now pivot as Metraco rebalances its ferro-titanium footprint. The group plans to rely on its Ti Q plant in Ahtme, Estonia, which has 600 t/month nameplate capacity and can expand further using a second furnace. Long-term UK contracts will first draw on inventory and then transition gradually to Estonian output.

Westbrook has also moved to protect its customer base during the TiVac ferro-titanium liquidation. The company expects to meet its long-term obligations from existing stock while it evaluates strategic options. Meanwhile, idle capacity at other European producers should absorb most of the lost TiVac volume, limiting short-term price impact.

The biggest immediate shock from the TiVac ferro-titanium liquidation will hit the UK titanium scrap market. TiVac’s disappearance removes a significant local buyer of titanium scrap, especially revert and offcuts suitable for FeTi production. If dealers hesitate to export to the EU because of added logistics and paperwork, domestic UK scrap prices could face downward pressure.

The closure also reshapes the UK ferro-titanium landscape. Sheffield-based Transition Metals now becomes the sole domestic producer of ferro-titanium in the UK. However, overall regional supply will remain balanced in the near term, because inventory and spare capacity at other European plants can cover reduced UK output. The longer-term question is whether UK-based ferro-titanium production can remain viable without structural relief on power and operating costs.

The Metalnomist Commentary

TiVac’s liquidation highlights how energy costs and weak alloy prices can quickly erode Europe’s titanium recycling base. For mills and superalloy buyers, supply will likely remain secure, but more material will flow through continental hubs rather than UK converters. For titanium scrap generators, the real challenge now is finding efficient export routes and maintaining value in a softer domestic market.