The U.S. ITC has received a petition to investigate the export of titanium sponge from Japan and Kazakhstan for evidence of subsidies and dumping. This moves beyond the usual steel- and aluminum-centric coverage of U.S. trade cases, and could be the start of a further expansion. Panjiva data shows U.S. imports climbed 25% on a year earlier in the second quarter, while average import costs per kg fell 9% for the past year. While imports dropped 60% from March’s peak in June, preliminary data for July indicates there was a short-term rebound and that the case was anticipated.