Industry Forecast by Ron Williams, Richard Hirst, The Blayson Group, Ltd.


would represent an increase approaching 5% compared to 2016 and maintains the steady upward trend of total world investment


S casting sales. These are


currently driven by the continued high demand for High Added Value castings for the buoyant commercial


aircraft


market. The automotive industry is also performing well with improved casting sales across most regions.


Regional market shares remain


largely unchanged from 2016 with only China increasing to 20% due to its growing aerospace and automotive sectors.


Sales to the sectors across the regions


remain unchanged with High Added Value casting production demonstrating its importance in North America and Europe. The increasing dominance of the


High Added Value sector is clearly demonstrated above.


Automotive and


Commercial casting sales improved in most markets. High Added Value casting sales now account for 59% of world investment casting sales.


Aerospace The commercial aircraft environment remains healthy with a robust order backlog. Furthermore Boeing picked up a record of 202 commercial aircraft orders this year and enjoys a backlog of 5,700 aircraft.


Similarly Airbus has existing


orders for 6,771 aircraft and a 2017 order intake for 203 commercial aircraft. China’s import market for aircraft


parts and components exceeded $2.19 billion in 2016, of which imports from the U.S. accounted for 30 percent. China’s domestic aircraft parts and assembly manufacturing sector is also growing as it develops a competitive manufacturing industry.


10 ❘ January 2018 ® Automotive


Some 78.6 million automobiles are expected to be sold by the end 2017 which is up from 77.3 million in 2016. Forecasts suggest that investment casting sales to the automotive sector are set to rise by 4% in 2017 to achieve a value approaching US$2 Billion. The Chinese market sold 23 million vehicles in 2016 and accounted for


Industrial Gas Turbines


Whilst sales for 2017 appear set for an increase approaching 5%, North America and Europe have seen some order cancellations in the 4th quarter of the year.


around 30% of global passenger car sales making China the largest car market by far - sales are set to increase by 5% in 2017 to 29.4 million vehicles. Growth for European car sales has


been steady in 2017 with a total of 1,19 million cars registered to date in the region, an increase of 3.2% on last year, whilst North America predicts fairly flat overall sales in the current year.


Medical The medical castings sector in western countries is benefiting from an aging population with a more active lifestyle driving implant sales.


An increase in sales of 6% is expected in 2017.


ales for the global investment casting industry in 2017 are forecast to reach US$13.8 Billion. This


World Report World Investment Casting Market Review 2017


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