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| Boeing 737 MAX |
Aircraft output recovers post-strike, but FAA limits still cap monthly build rate
Suppliers monitor quality risks and delivery schedules as Boeing maintains 2025 targets
Boeing has denied any reduction in its 737 MAX production rate, countering media reports of a March slowdown.
The company clarified it has not yet reached the 38 aircraft-per-month target for 2024, nor has it pulled back output. This rebuttal follows a report by The Air Current, which cited lower wing assembly volumes between February and March at Renton.
Operations resumed at Boeing’s Renton facility in December following a seven-week worker strike.
Since then, Boeing has methodically increased its narrowbody aircraft production rate. The planemaker aims to stabilize at 38 units per month by 2025, in line with the current FAA-imposed cap on the MAX program.
Suppliers are watching closely as FAA oversight continues to limit Boeing’s ramp-up potential.
The firm hopes to exit 2025 producing 42 aircraft monthly, pending regulatory approval. However, lingering quality control issues from early 2024 have disrupted the supply chain and cast doubt on scheduling reliability for global airline deliveries.
ScrapInsight Editorial Commentary:
Boeing’s production trajectory is a bellwether for aluminum and titanium scrap demand across North America and Asia. While the 737 MAX ramp-up offers a bullish signal for aerospace-grade alloys, uncertainty around FAA restrictions and quality audits could prolong volatility. Scrap recyclers tied to high-grade aerospace inputs should prepare for a cautious second half in 2025, with meaningful upside hinging on FAA clearance and supplier recovery timelines.
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