ITP Metal Casting: 2002 Metal Casting Industry of the Future ...

Metal Casting Industry Shipments
In 2001, the metal casting industry shipped a total of 12.2 million short tons of nonferrous and
ferrous castings valued at $16.9 billion. This was a 13 percent decrease in total tonnage shipped
the value of castings shipped declined by 11 percent when compared to 2000.
From 2000 to 2001 tonnage of nonferrous castings shipments declined by 12 percent. Over the
same period the value declined 10 percent, the first decrease in over five years. The value and
quantity of aluminum and aluminum- based alloy casting shipments decreased in both tonnage and
value by 9 percent between 2000 and 2001. 16
In 2001, a total of 9.9 million short tons of ferrous castings valued at $9.5 billion were shipped.
Both the value and quantity of shipments declined 12 percent between 2000 and 2001. Ductile iron
castings decreased 9 percent based on both tonnage shipped and total value of shipments. 17
As shown in Exhibit 8, the quantity of casting shipments decreased by an average of 3 percent over
the period 1996 to 2001. This was led by a drop in steel and gray iron shipments. Steel shipments
decreased at an average annual rate of 9 percent between 1996 and 2000. Production in 2001 was
778 thousand short tons. The biggest share of the decline is was caused by gray iron dropping 1.3
million tons. 18
Declines in total metal casting shipments over the past five years have been offset by the five year
trend of generally increased demand for nonferrous castings. Aluminum and aluminum-based
casting shipments increased at an average annual rate of 4 percent between 1996 and 2001
reaching 1.8 million short tons in 2001. Markets for nonferrous castings are expected to continue to
remain strong in response to increased demand for lightweight materials.
Shipments value data are provided in Exhibit 9. Throughout the period between 1996 and 2001 the
value of nonferrous castings rose by 2 percent. Ferrous castings declined in value over the same
period by 3 percent, whereas total casting shipments value declined by 1 percent. This is roughly
the same trend that occurred in the tonnage of castings shipped. 19
16 U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Current Industrial Reports, Iron and Steel Castings 2000, MA331A(00)-1,
Table 3; Non-Ferrous Castings 2000, MA331E(00)-1, Table 1.
17
Ibid.
18
Ibid.
19
Ibid.
9