STEADY REBOUND FROM RECESSION


U.S. casting sales are forecast to grow in almost all metals, topping $37 billion in 2016.


T AN MCDP STAFF REPORT


he U.S. metalcasting industry’s sales have recovered from the dramatic recession that began at the end of 2008 and continued through the fi rst part of 2010. After shipping $31.5 billion in castings in 2007, the industry bottomed out at $21.6 billion in shipments in 2009 at the depth of the recession. T e industry began to rebound in 2010 with an estimated growth of 18% from the previous year to $25.46 billion, and this continued in 2011, reaching $29.64 billion in sales. T e recovery is expected to continue through 2015 when sales will reach $37.5 billion, according to the 2014 Metalcasting Forecast and Trends Report published by the American Foundry Society, Schaumburg, Ill. All cast metals are expected to see sales growth in the short term as customer demand contin- ues to improve. Ductile iron, aluminum, compacted graphite iron and copper-based alloys see the greatest opportunities for long-term growth. While ductile iron growth is expected across all end markets, it is led by the oil and gas, automotive, construction, and pump and compressor markets.


Steel growth will be led by the oil and gas, turbine, material handling, and pump and compressor markets. T e return of the automotive and transportation markets should bring about long-term growth to aluminum and magnesium castings. For copper-based alloys, the valve, pump and compressor, and construction markets are keys to growth.


Ductile iron and aluminum sales fi gures are expected to continue to grow through 2014.


22 | METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING | Jan/Feb 2014


Titanium, copper-based and other nonferrous alloys are trending upward through 2014.


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