Sanctions and embargoes on raw materials: Threatening the titanium sponge market.
Russia’s VSMPO-AVISMA is the world’s largest titanium producer, with a capacity of 34,000 tons/year, supplying products to markets in 50 countries and closely linked with the global aerospace industry. In particular, it supplies the majority of titanium products used for aircraft shells by Airbus and Boeing.
Under an agreement signed this past November with Boeing, VSMPO “will remain the largest supplier of titanium for current and future Boeing commercial aircraft,” the Russian company said at the time. VSMPO-AVISMA has also signed 3 long-term agreements with Rolls-Royce for the period from 2016 to 2025, providing titanium products, semi-finished products and equipment made from titanium alloys, with a potential revenue in excess of 300 million dollars. Not only that, VSMPO also signed contracts with Spain’s Aernnova Aerospace until 2028 and UK-based Barnes Aerospace until 2026.
https://logistician.org/supply-chain/russia-ukraine-conflict-titanium-supply-chain-threatened.html
Ukraine may have titanium, unmined? Not sure, but Russia VSMPO is currently the world’s supplier. Oddly enough, Airbus DID NOT sanction Russia, most likely because it needs Russia’s titanium for their aircraft…..they are rumored to be paying in Rubles.
"It's the leading nation when it comes to reserves of titanium, iron and non-metallic raw materials."
https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/world/story/are-ukraines-vast-natural-resources-a-real-reason-behind-russias-invasion-323894-2022-02-25