Closing the loop: how Europe’s titanium strategy is taking shape — and Hermith’s role

At the beginning of 2025 the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission published its report “Closing the loop on the EU’s titanium supply chain”, which defines a strategic pathway for Europe’s titanium ecosystem. Let’s deep delve into this topic with Hermith, the German titanium semifinished products specialist.

From dependency to resilience

At the beginning of 2025 the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission published its report “Closing the loop on the EU’s titanium supply chain”, which defines a strategic pathway for Europe’s titanium ecosystem. Let’s deep delve into this topic with Hermith, the German titanium semifinished products specialist.

The report highlights Europe’s heavy reliance on titanium imports and sets out clear objectives for strengthening a resilient, circular, and self-sufficient supply chain. Europe is a key consumer of titanium — essential for aerospace, defense, energy generation, robotics, medical devices, and additive manufacturing — yet production and processing within the EU remain minimal.

According to the JRC, the EU still imports about six times more titanium than it exports. Geopolitical shifts and supply chain disruptions in 2024 forced producers and distributors to re-qualify suppliers, redirect sourcing, and build more selective, resilient networks.

A new industrial dynamic

The strategy described by the JRC moves titanium from a raw material dependency to an industrial strategic asset. Circularity, reshoring, and regional processing are now integral to Europe’s industrial security.

Hermith: delivering titanium for Europe’s new reality

One company that has aligned with this framework is Hermith GmbH (Munich, Germany). For more than a decade it has specialized in supplying titanium materials for aerospace, medical, industrial, and other critical applications, operating under EN 9100, EN 9120, and ISO 9001 certifications.

With production and distribution capacity exceeding 1000 tons per year, Hermith serves clients across Europe from hubs in Germany, Ireland, Turkey, and India. The company’s strategy of shortening supply chains, expanding regional presence and ensuring reliability is fully consistent with Europe’s renewed focus.

Hermith is also investing in titanium wire for additive manufacturing, where improved purity and consistency are essential for high-performance 3D printing. This focus directly supports the EU’s goals for cleaner and more circular production.

Hermith’s alignment with the EU titanium strategy can be summarized as:
- European-based production and certification ensure supply-chain security;
- a broad product portfolio (bars, sheets, billets, tubes, wire) supports diverse industrial applications;
- commitment to recycling and material innovation supports circularity;
- regional hubs across Europe guarantee flexibility and timely delivery.

Looking ahead

Industry forecasts expect titanium demand in Europe to accelerate over the next five years — driven by civilian and defense programmes, additive manufacturing, and the green transition. At the same time, EU policy instruments will increasingly favor suppliers that can demonstrate local sourcing, sustainability, and circular-economy integration.

This convergence of policy and industrial priorities is reshaping the competitive landscape, rewarding companies that combine reliability, innovation and regional presence.

Hermith GmbH is a new exhibitor on Expometals.net — visit its online stand to learn more about the company’s titanium solutions and ongoing projects.