How Much Is 1 Ounce of Titanium Worth?

Titanium is a highly valued metal known for properties suitable for demanding applications. It has a high strength-to-weight ratio, providing steel-like robustness at half the density. Titanium also resists corrosion, even in harsh environments like seawater or the human body. These characteristics make it a premium material across industries.

Understanding the Current Market Value

The value of raw or semi-processed titanium, like sponge or ingot, is determined by its status as a traded commodity. As of the second quarter of 2025, titanium sponge, a foundational form, typically ranges from $5,700 to $5,950 per metric ton, or $0.16 to $0.17 per ounce. Titanium ingot, further processed, generally costs $6,700 to $6,900 per metric ton, or $0.19 to $0.20 per ounce.

These prices represent the raw material cost before manufacturing. Commercially pure titanium grades (Grades 1-4) are valued between $6 and $10 per pound ($0.375 to $0.625 per ounce). More advanced titanium alloys, such as Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) used in aerospace, may range from $10 to $30 per pound ($0.625 to $1.875 per ounce).

Factors Influencing Titanium’s Worth

Titanium’s worth is influenced by its purity and grade. Commercial pure grades, used in less demanding applications, are less expensive than aerospace or medical implant grades. High-purity titanium for medical devices or aerospace components undergoes more refinement, increasing cost. Alloy composition, like aluminum and vanadium in Grade 5, also enhances properties such as strength and heat resistance, leading to a higher price.

The form and processing stage also influence titanium’s valuation. Titanium ore has a lower value than titanium sponge, the product of initial chemical processing. Further transformation into ingots, billets, sheets, or bars involves energy-intensive manufacturing steps, increasing the material’s price. Each processing stage adds value through shaping, refinement, and adherence to specifications.

Global supply and demand dynamics drive titanium prices. Industries like aerospace, defense, medical, and chemical processing generate demand for titanium. The limited number of primary titanium producers means minor shifts in production or demand from these sectors can impact market prices.

Economic conditions also influence industrial demand for titanium. Strong economic growth increases demand for high-performance materials like titanium. Conversely, economic downturns reduce demand. Geopolitical factors, including trade policies, tariffs, or regional conflicts, can disrupt supply chains and affect titanium’s availability and price. Its classification as a critical mineral by some nations underscores its strategic importance and vulnerability to disruptions.

Titanium’s Value in Manufactured Goods

The worth of titanium in a finished product differs from its raw commodity price, reflecting value additions throughout the manufacturing chain. When an ounce of titanium is integrated into an airplane component, a medical implant, or consumer goods, its cost is higher than its unprocessed form.

Added value comes from research and development (R&D) and engineering. Designing components that leverage titanium’s properties, like its strength-to-weight ratio or biocompatibility, requires investment in material science and design innovation. This intellectual capital is embedded into the final product.

Manufacturing processes are costly for titanium. Shaping and machining titanium alloys require specialized equipment and techniques, including forging, milling, and welding, due to the metal’s hardness and reactivity at high temperatures. These fabrication steps add expense beyond the initial material cost.

Quality control and certification processes contribute to the final product’s value. For aerospace or medical applications, titanium components undergo testing and adhere to standards for reliability and safety. Specialized labor and expertise, combined with intellectual property and brand value, elevate the product’s price beyond the raw material cost.