SINGAPORE, (Reuters) – Boeing (NYSE) Co believes it can overcome any disruptions in titanium supply due to its “very varied” supply base. This was according to a top executive of the U.S. company on Monday.

Boeing is heavily dependent on Russia’s VSMPO OVISMA for titanium supplies. Titanium, which is a light but sturdy metal used extensively in planemaking, can be found at large thanks to Russia’s VSMPO OVISMA.

“We’ve got a very diverse titanium supply now,” Boeing Commercial Airplanes head Stan Deal told reporters in a briefing ahead of the Singapore Airshow https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/asias-slow-aviation-recovery-cast-shadow-over-singapore-airshow-2022-02-11, which starts on Tuesday.

“I’ll tell you, diversity allows us to overcome any disruptions in the supply chain that is related to titanium.”

According to industry sources, Western aerospace companies have increased inventory and diversified sources of supply ever since Russia’s annexation in 2014 of Crimea by Ukraine. This was even though the target was titanium.

The fact that less jets have been assembled due to the coronavirus pandemic has made their situation easier. This gives them the opportunity to build up reserves.