New York — US aerospace company Boeing will no longer buy titanium from Russia, the company announced on Monday.
Boeing has broadened its supply network in recent years and "has substantial titanium inventory," the company said.
Last week, Boeing had already announced that it was suspending its business with Russian airlines because of the invasion of Ukraine and also due to Western sanctions.
Aicraft manufactures use titanium in engine suspensions and landing gears. Russia plays an important role in supplying the industry through VSMPO-AVISMA, which belongs to the state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec.
Boeing has been operating the Ural Boeing Manufacturing facility with VSMPO-AVISMA.
The companies had agreed in November 2021 that the Russians would remain the largest titanium supplier for Boeing commercial airplanes "for years to come."
However, the business relationship became increasingly delicate, especially as Rostec CEO, Sergey Chemezov, is said to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and is personally subject to US sanctions.
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