New Medical Device Demand to Disrupt Rhenium Market

Spinal Implants

MoRe Alloys Spark Medical Breakthroughs

New demand for rhenium in medical applications is poised to reshape the global rhenium market. Historically driven by superalloys used in aerospace engines, rhenium is now being adopted for advanced medical devices. Molybdenum-rhenium (MoRe) alloys, particularly Mo50 Re, have recently gained US FDA approval for use in spinal implants and cardiovascular stents.

Several devices using MoRe alloys have entered the US market in the past 18 months, signaling a structural demand shift. According to the MMTA conference in Lisbon, these devices could soon rival aerospace in total rhenium consumption. MiRus, a leader in MoRe medical technology, has already received multiple FDA clearances for spine and structural heart treatments.

Global Supply Faces New Pressures

China, now the top importer of rhenium from Chile’s Molymet, has ramped up consumption for its growing aerospace sector. In 2023, China imported 26 tonnes of Chilean rhenium, a dramatic increase from just 2 tonnes in 2018. Traditionally, the US aerospace industry dominated rhenium imports, accounting for 75% of global demand.

However, experts warned that aerospace users must now compete with the fast-growing medical sector. Medical-grade MoRe alloys offer superior strength, fatigue resistance, and biocompatibility. Unlike nickel, cobalt, or chromium implants, MoRe devices do not trigger allergic reactions and have shown zero breakage in trials.

Long-Term Outlook Points to Tight Supply

Rhenium's unique properties are driving innovation in smaller, fatigue-resistant implants. Titan International noted MoRe-based implants offer greater durability and precision in surgeries. As global populations age, demand for reliable orthopedic and cardiovascular devices is expected to surge.

Yet supply growth remains constrained. With no major new rhenium mines and declining grades in copper-molybdenum ores, primary output is projected to stay flat. Speakers forecast that elevated prices could eventually stimulate recycling, but short-term supply pressure remains a key concern.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Rhenium’s shift from jet turbines to spinal implants underscores how material science breakthroughs can reshape strategic metals markets. With Chinese aerospace demand rising and MoRe alloys entering the medical mainstream, the global rhenium balance may tighten further. This evolution highlights the urgent need for recycling solutions and diversified sourcing strategies in the decade ahead.

Riverspan United Titanium acquisition targets growth in titanium fasteners

United Titanium

The Riverspan United Titanium acquisition signals fresh private equity interest in specialty metal fasteners. The Riverspan United Titanium acquisition gives the Ohio-based titanium fastener maker new strategic, operational and financial backing. As a result, the Riverspan United Titanium acquisition positions the company to chase market share and accelerate product development across high-spec end markets.

Riverspan United Titanium acquisition brings new capital and scale ambitions

The deal sees Chicago-based private equity firm Riverspan Partners acquire United Titanium for an undisclosed sum. United Titanium produces fasteners from titanium, zirconium and other specialty metals for demanding applications. Therefore, Riverspan’s capital and management support should help expand capacity, shorten lead times and deepen customer coverage.

Riverspan says it will provide “strategic, operational and financial support” to United Titanium. This language typically implies investments in manufacturing systems, sales channels and possibly bolt-on acquisitions. However, success will depend on balancing growth initiatives with the strict quality controls required in aerospace, medical and defense supply chains.

Titanium fastener specialist positioned across critical end markets

United Titanium’s product portfolio spans bolts, screws, nuts, washers, fittings and custom machined parts. It also supplies mill products in a range of titanium and zirconium alloys. This breadth gives the Riverspan United Titanium acquisition exposure to multiple high-value sectors.

Key end markets include defense, commercial aerospace, medical devices and broader industrial applications. Meanwhile, secular trends such as aircraft lightweighting, corrosion-resistant chemical equipment and high-performance medical implants all favour titanium fasteners. Therefore, United Titanium sits at the intersection of critical materials and regulated, long-cycle industries.

By adding private equity backing, the Riverspan United Titanium acquisition could support investments in new alloys, coatings and digital traceability. These upgrades would help meet tightening specifications from OEMs and regulators, while improving differentiation against lower-cost commodity fastener producers.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This transaction underlines how specialist titanium and zirconium fastener makers are attracting focused private equity capital. If Riverspan can scale United Titanium without diluting quality, the platform could become a more aggressive consolidator in niche aerospace and medical fasteners. Market participants should watch for capacity expansions, new certifications and potential M&A moves that signal the next phase of this growth story.

SUPER METAL PRICE Launches 'The Metals Grade Atlas' eBook: A Definitive Handbook for the Specialty Metals Industry

eBook: 'The Metals Grade Atlas'

An 815-page authoritative guide to titanium, nickel, and iron alloys sets a new global standard in advanced materials selection.

SUPER METAL PRICE, a global intelligence platform specializing in metals markets, has officially released The Metals Grade Atlas, a comprehensive digital reference for high-performance specialty metals used in modern industries.

A Complete Guidebook for Extreme Industrial Conditions in the 21st Century

This 815-page volume presents a systematic overview of materials engineered to withstand extreme environments, including aerospace, power generation, chemical processing, medical devices, and offshore platforms.

The Metals Grade Atlas provides essential data for materials capable of enduring ultra-high temperatures, corrosion, and mechanical stress—such as jet turbine blades operating above 1000°C, or gas turbines in power plants that function under thermal extremes exceeding 1200°C.

Covering the Full Spectrum of Titanium, Nickel, and Iron Alloys

The publication categorizes cutting-edge alloys into three key material families:

◎ Titanium Alloys – Lightweight and corrosion-resistant innovations

• Core material in aerospace applications for airframes, engine components, and landing gear
• Exceptional strength-to-weight ratio enhances fuel efficiency and payload
• Proven durability in chloride- and H₂S-rich offshore environments
• High biocompatibility and long-term stability for medical implants

◎ Nickel-based Superalloys – Designed to conquer extreme temperatures

• Resilient beyond 1200°C with excellent thermal and mechanical stability
• Ideal for turbine blades, combustors, and disks in power generation systems
• High resistance to creep, oxidation, and thermal cycling in jet engine hot zones
• Key material in high-temperature petrochemical reactors and heat exchangers

◎ Special Iron Alloys – The structural backbone of industrial infrastructure

• High-strength steels for shipbuilding, construction, automotive, and renewable energy
• Covers a wide range from ultra-high-strength to abrasion-resistant grades
• Enhanced fatigue performance and weldability in marine applications
• Delivers both weight reduction and crash safety in automotive structures
• Specialized grades for wind turbine towers and heavy-duty bearings

A Practical Data Library for Industry Professionals

Each alloy in The Metals Grade Atlas includes:

• Chemical composition and mechanical properties
• Corrosion resistance and high-temperature performance
• Fatigue strength and weldability indexes
• Real-world application examples and selection criteria
• Cost-performance considerations to support design decisions

Supporting Engineering Decision-Making

Going beyond material specifications, the book offers a structured framework for material selection in actual engineering practice. It assists professionals in benchmarking, processability assessment, and cost-performance analysis to guide optimal alloy choices.

A Strategic Companion for Industrial Innovation

SUPER METAL PRICE stated, "We sincerely hope this publication becomes a trusted and indispensable reference for design engineers, material scientists, and quality professionals striving to make precise, performance-driven, and economically sound material decisions."

The company further emphasized, "This book aims to serve as a compass for understanding, developing, and applying advanced metals in the pursuit of next-generation industrial innovation."

Global Market Insights and Future Outlook

With net-zero targets and energy transitions accelerating worldwide, demand for high-performance specialty metals is rising sharply. Policies such as the EU’s CBAM and the U.S. IRA have further highlighted the strategic value of specialty alloys. Industry experts have praised The Metals Grade Atlas as a long-awaited professional handbook that offers both comprehensive coverage and practical utility in the field.

Publication Details

• Title: The Metals Grade Atlas (eBook)
• Publisher: SUPER METAL PRICE
• Release Date: June 1, 2025
• Language: English
• File Size: 12.9MB
• Length: 815 pages

Available at: www.supermetalprice.com

About SUPER METAL PRICE

SUPER METAL PRICE is a global intelligence platform delivering in-depth analysis and real-time news on the metal markets. Its coverage spans steel, non-ferrous metals, rare earths, and energy-transition materials, with expert insights into pricing trends, tariffs, trade policies, and technical innovations across major regions including the U.S., Europe, China, and India.

Following The Metals Grade Atlas, the company plans to expand its specialty metals portfolio with future publications, including a Rare Earth Handbook and a Recycling Technology Guide.

Contact

Website: www.supermetalprice.com

eBook Purchase: Visit the digital download page

This press release is based on publicly available information from SUPER METAL PRICE.

China’s Titanium Sponge Exports Double as Global Supply Tightens

China Titanium Sponge

China's titanium sponge exports surged 104% in 1H 2025 to 3,586t. China's titanium sponge exports filled supply gaps from Russia and Ukraine disruptions. China's titanium sponge exports now anchor aerospace-grade feedstock for global mills.

Drivers and supply displacement

War halted Zaporozhe operations and cut output at VSMPO-Avisma and Solikamsk. Consequently, international buyers pivoted to Chinese sponge to secure critical inputs. Demand came from aerospace, medical devices, and mill products manufacturers. Tighter supply outside China supported new contracts and spot lifting.

June slowdown and shifting destinations

However, June exports fell to 446t, down 33% year on year. Shipments also fell 32% from May amid absent US buying. Taiwan received 120t; South Korea 100t; the Netherlands 60t. India took 40t, and Japan purchased 25t during the month.

Meanwhile, US demand remained weak under higher tariffs and softer mill activity. First-half US receipts dropped 80% to 123t. As a result, Chinese supply rebalanced toward Asian and European customers.

The Metalnomist Commentary

We expect contract buyers to hedge with multi-source sponge as tariffs evolve. Watch aerospace backlogs, Russian repairs, and US policy for price direction. Sustained US absence could deepen Asia-centric trade flows into 2026.

NioCorp Critical Minerals Project Secures $200 Million UK Financing

NioCorp

NioCorp critical minerals development received a major boost with up to $200 million in potential financing from UK Export Finance (UKEF). The NioCorp critical minerals project at Elk Creek in Nebraska will produce niobium, scandium, and titanium, addressing critical supply chain gaps as no US companies currently produce niobium or scandium domestically.

Strategic Partnership Advances US Critical Minerals Security

NioCorp critical minerals financing demonstrates international cooperation in securing essential materials for advanced manufacturing. UKEF expressed non-binding interest for the loan this week, contingent upon offtake agreements with UK companies for the project's output. The company has already engaged in discussions for scandium-based product agreements with potential British partners.

Meanwhile, the financing structure involves coordination with the US Export-Import Bank, creating a bilateral framework for critical minerals development. This partnership model reflects growing recognition that critical minerals supply chains require international collaboration to reduce dependence on single-source suppliers, particularly China.

Diverse Product Portfolio Targets High-Value Applications

However, the Elk Creek project addresses multiple critical mineral supply gaps across strategic industries. Niobium serves high-strength low-alloy steel production for automotive and structural applications, while scandium enhances aluminum alloys for aerospace manufacturing. Titanium finds applications in aerospace, defense, medical devices, and industrial pigments.

Therefore, NioCorp's integrated approach maximizes project economics by targeting multiple high-value end markets. The company also plans to extract rare earth elements from end-of-life rare earth magnets at the facility, creating additional revenue streams while supporting circular economy principles in critical minerals recovery.

Project Significance for Domestic Supply Chain Resilience

Furthermore, the Elk Creek facility addresses a critical vulnerability in US manufacturing supply chains. Currently, no American companies produce niobium or scandium domestically, creating dependencies on foreign suppliers for materials essential to aerospace, automotive, and defense industries. The project's development aligns with US government priorities for critical minerals supply chain security.

As a result, the UK financing arrangement demonstrates how allied nations can collaborate to strengthen collective supply chain resilience. The offtake requirement ensures British companies gain access to reliable critical minerals supplies while supporting American domestic production capabilities in strategically important materials.

The Metalnomist Commentary

NioCorp's potential $200 million UK financing arrangement exemplifies the evolving geopolitics of critical minerals development, where traditional export credit agencies support strategic resource projects beyond their borders. This bilateral approach to financing critical minerals infrastructure represents a pragmatic model for Western nations seeking to diversify supply chains away from Chinese dominance while creating mutually beneficial commercial relationships.

Phoenix Tailings Raises $76M to Launch First US Standalone Rare Earth Metals Plant

Phoenix Tailings

Phoenix Tailings rare earth plant to meet US defense demand

US-based startup Phoenix Tailings has raised $76 million in Series B funding to build a rare earth metals plant in New Hampshire. The Exeter facility will be the first standalone US rare earth refinery capable of producing finished metals directly from diverse feedstocks. Once fully operational, the site will have a 500t/yr production capacity—matching the entire annual demand of the US defense sector.

Exeter facility to refine key rare earth elements for magnet manufacturers

Initial output from the Phoenix Tailings rare earth plant will start this summer at 200t/yr, ramping up to 500t/yr in time. The facility will produce neodymium-praseodymium, ferro-dysprosium, dysprosium, and terbium—all essential for permanent magnets used in defense, electric vehicles, and medical devices. It will process feedstocks from mines, coal ash, recycling streams, and other industrial byproducts, offering flexible sourcing.

Global investors back strategic US supply chain expansion

The oversubscribed $76 million Series B round was led by Envisioning Partners of Korea and included Escape Velocity, Builders Vision, Yamaha Motor Ventures, M Power, and Sumitomo’s Presidio Ventures. This strong international investor support highlights the growing urgency to establish domestic rare earth supply chains. Phoenix Tailings already runs a 40t/yr commercial facility and sources concentrates from allied nations.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The Phoenix Tailings rare earth plant represents a major step in reshoring critical mineral processing to the US. Its feedstock flexibility and defense-aligned production profile could reduce dependence on China’s REE dominance. This deal also shows that global capital is actively fueling secure and resilient rare earth value chains.

Burundi Mining Suspension Raises 3T Conflict Minerals Supply Risk

Burundi mining

Burundi mining suspension measures have halted nearly all mining operations in the country, leaving only Sotrevo Mining and Sonalek Mining allowed to continue operating. The move creates new uncertainty for tantalum, tungsten and tin supply from one of Africa’s smaller but strategically important 3T mineral producers.

Burundi mining suspension measures require mining companies and co-operatives to apply for new operating permits before restarting. The government said operating approvals and the state’s share of production will be decided case by case.

Burundi mining suspension rules also introduce the threat of severe sanctions for companies that ignore the new requirements. This signals a stronger state push to control mineral production, permitting and revenue sharing.

The decision matters because Burundi supplies 3T concentrates at a time when buyers are already sensitive to conflict minerals risk, origin documentation and supply disruption across central and eastern Africa.

Permit Reset Raises Supply Risk for 3T Minerals

The suspension affects all mining sites except those operated by Sotrevo Mining and Sonalek Mining. Sotrevo produces tantalum, tungsten and tin, while Sonalek Mining also remains exempt from the suspension.

The ministry’s decision effectively resets the operating framework for much of Burundi’s mining sector. Producers that previously operated under existing arrangements must now seek new approval before they can resume work.

This creates immediate supply-chain uncertainty. Buyers may face delays in shipments, reduced availability and additional documentation requirements while companies wait for permit decisions.

Burundi produced 421t of 3T concentrates in 2024, according to industry supply-chain data referenced in the source material. That volume is not large compared with global mined supply, but it matters for buyers seeking diversified and traceable African material.

Tantalum is critical for capacitors used in electronics, aerospace, defence systems and medical devices. Tungsten supports hard metals, cutting tools, defence applications and industrial machinery. Tin is essential for solder, electronics assembly and coatings.

The suspension therefore affects more than local mining companies. It reaches downstream electronics, tooling, defence and manufacturing supply chains that depend on stable 3T material flows.

Conflict Mineral Markets Face New Compliance Pressure

Burundi has gained importance because conflict and instability in other major 3T-producing countries have increased demand for its material. Buyers looking to diversify regional supply have turned to Burundian concentrates as an alternative source.

The new suspension complicates that trend. Even if the government aims to strengthen oversight, the immediate effect is to reduce clarity for exporters, traders and downstream consumers.

The case-by-case permit process could also reshape the country’s mining structure. Companies with stronger compliance systems, clearer production records and better state relationships may be better positioned to restart.

For responsible sourcing programmes, the policy shift adds another layer of due diligence. Buyers will need to confirm not only mine origin and chain of custody, but also whether suppliers hold valid new operating permits.

The state’s share of production will also be decided individually. This could change project economics and create different cost structures across operators.

Burundi’s decision reflects a wider trend in critical minerals. Resource-holding governments increasingly want more control over production, exports and domestic value capture.

For 3T markets, the timing is sensitive. Supply chains already face scrutiny under conflict minerals rules, while manufacturers need stable feedstock for electronics, aerospace, defence and industrial applications.

If the suspension is resolved quickly, the market impact may stay limited. If permitting delays continue, Burundi’s role as a flexible alternative source of 3T concentrates could weaken.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Burundi’s mining suspension shows how even smaller suppliers can affect strategic mineral confidence. In 3T markets, regulatory clarity and traceability are now as important as mined volume itself.

Aterian Wogen Tantalum JV Begins Rwanda Concentrate Trading

Aterian

Aterian Wogen tantalum JV operations have started trading and exporting Rwandan tantalum concentrates, creating a new commercial route for material consolidated by Aterian’s wholly owned subsidiary Eastinco. The venture links Aterian’s Rwanda-based supply position with Wogen Resources’ international trading and marketing network.

The Aterian Wogen tantalum JV gives Wogen exclusive marketing rights over 100% of saleable tantalum concentrates consolidated by Eastinco. This structure should improve pricing discipline, offtake consistency, and access to downstream buyers.

The Aterian Wogen tantalum JV also gives Aterian a more cash-generative model. The company expects trading operations to reduce reliance on equity funding while increasing volumes and improving commercial visibility.

Rwanda Tantalum Trading Gains Strategic Importance

Rwandan tantalum concentrates are becoming more important as downstream demand grows from advanced electronics and other high-value applications. Tantalum remains a critical material for capacitors, semiconductors, aerospace components, medical devices, and high-reliability electronics.

The joint venture also places responsible sourcing at the center of the trading model. Central African tantalum supply often faces scrutiny around traceability, compliance, and transparency, so credible sourcing systems can influence buyer confidence and market access.

For Wogen, the agreement adds a specialized critical minerals stream to its trading portfolio. For Aterian, it creates a route to monetize consolidated concentrate flows without relying only on exploration-stage funding.

Tantalum Prices Reflect Tight Central African Supply

Tantalum concentrate prices have surged this year because of stronger downstream demand and disruption in key central African supply markets. Benchmark tantalite prices were recently assessed at $280-295/lb cif main port, up about 170% from the start of the year.

The price move shows how quickly specialty mineral markets can tighten when supply disruption meets high-value electronics demand. Unlike larger base metals, tantalum markets have limited liquidity and fewer scalable alternative sources.

Aterian’s timing is therefore commercially significant. Starting trading operations during a strong price cycle could support better margins, stronger cash flow, and greater market relevance for its Rwanda-based concentrate platform.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The Aterian-Wogen venture shows how critical mineral value is increasingly captured through traceable trading channels, not only mining ownership. In tantalum, responsible sourcing and reliable offtake can be as important as resource access itself.