ccording to the 26 nations responding to MODERN

1. ChinaA 9% boost in shipments from 01 to 02

CASTINGs 37th Annual Census of World Casting Prokept China as the worlds leader in casting producduction (see table next page), 2002 offered a positive
tion. In 02, the nation recorded its fifth consecutive
year for the global casting industry.
growth year. Casting shipments have increased 60%
The results from 2002 showed that total global
over the last six years.
tonnage (represented by census participants) ap2. U.S.Shipments decreased slightly (70,000
peared to increase by 3%, with seven of the Top Ten showing
tons) for the third straight year in 02 to 11.8
increases in production in 02. Overall, 14 of the 26 responding
million metric tons (13.02 short tons). Shipments
nations metalcasting indusremain down 9% from
tries experienced growth.
six years ago, when they
Number of Operating Foundries By Nation2002
COUNTRY
IRON
STEEL
NONFERROUS
TOTAL
Further, about two-thirds
werent near-peak levels.
of the nations experienced
3. Japan
Austria***
19
7
32
58
higher casting shipments in Belgium
Japans cast20
9
10
39
1000 A
02 than they did six years Brazil*
ing industry
Canada*
73
38
84
195
ago in 1997.
experienced a
China*
12000 A
decline in casting shipments
Croatia
19
2
20
41
Participants
Czech Republic
108
32
59
199
for the fourth time in five
C
10
8
18
Last reporting in 1998, Denmark
years with a 1.5% dropoff
Finland
15
6
19
40
Taiwan re-entered with cur- France
in 02 to 5.8 million tons.
525 A
220
53
400
673
rent data for 02. Failing Germany
Japans shipments are 19%
C
C
Britain
179
179
to respond this year were Great
lower than in 97.
Hungary
33
12
63
108
Canada, Iran, Netherlands, India
4700 A
4. Germany
237
27
895
1159
Portugal, Romania, Russia Italy
Shipments
Japan
462
84
1178
1724
and South Africa, but they Korea
dropped in 02
447
134
179
760
remain listed by their last Mexico
741
27
1019
1787
t o
4.6 million tons
C
Netherlands*
35
3
38
reporting data.
(less than 1%). This figure is
Norway
8
3
12
23
Because Russia (previ- Poland*
13% higher than in 97.
200 D
40
270 E
510
ously holding the number Portugal*
49
12
67
128
5. India
176
35
132
343
four spot in world produc- Romania*
India experiA
Russia**
1900
tion) did not respond, it was Slovenia
enced a gain
16
4
33
53
C
150 B
40
190
dropped from the Top 10 South Africa***
of 3.5% in
153
36
117
306
list below. As a result, Korea Spain
02
to
3.3
million
tons.
Sweden
37
13
84
134
is appearing in the final spot Switzerland
Shipment totals are now 6%
19
3
40
62
544
50
349
943
in the list. The order of the Taiwan
below 1997 totals.
45
5
10
60
Top 10 players remained the Thailand
6. France
Turkey
975
70
80
1125
same as in 01.
After a 7%
Ukraine
400
233
327
960
U.S.
700
300
1700
2700
decline in 01,
* 2001 data
** 2000 data *** 1999 data
World Production Leaders
Frances shipFollowing is a summary of A) all foundries
ments grew 19% to 3.02 milB) includes steel foundries
each nations metric tonnage C) not available
lion tons in 02. This is nearly
in 02 and the six-year ship- D) includes about 30 foundries making both iron and steel
24% higher than levels in 97.
E) includes about 40 foundries making castings in both ferrous and nonferrous.
ment trend.
(continued on page 25)
MODERN CASTING / December 2003

23

37th Census of World Casting Production2002 (Metric Tons)

Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada*
China
Croatia
Czech Republic
DenmarkL
Finland
France
Germany
Great BritainI
Hungary
India
Iran*
Italy
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Netherlands*I
Norway
Poland
Portugal*
Romania*
Russia**
Slovenia
Spain
South Africa**
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
United States
Ukraine
TOTALS
* 2001 tonnage

Gray
Iron

Ductile
Iron

Malleable
Iron

52,524
77,954
1,219,207
684,000A,D
9,840,108
27,583
247,009
52,853
55,568
2,513,000A, D
2,253,278
545,000
50,435
2,370,000
280,000
932,855
2,351,141
925,100
800,000A
66,100
19,606
389,494
33,700
255,473
4,400,000A, D
57,606
592,170
221,200
156,800
29,020
722,600
67,080
620,000
4,463,424
626,610
37,998,498
** 2000 tonnage

117,539 A
18,593
493,652
2,994,986
11,799
42,783
34,444
43,283G
1,276,751
326,000
12,375
300,000J
95,000J, H
443,840
1,742,123
523,400J
175,000
60,300
44,247
101,907
51,500
20,736
25,616
642,600J
88,400
57,000
51,373
275,000
100,800
139,000
3,703,190
40,000
14,053,237

36,979
23,189
451,788
90
9,851
38,277
15,300
53
30,000
1,500
9,650
81,064
47,900
5,200
14,642
100
5,840
4,200
22,750
1,400
8,000
1,350
7,600
115,214
10,000
941,937

(Millions of Tons)

A) includes malleable iron

B) includes zinc
C) includes magnesium
D) includes ductile iron

Steel

CopperBase

Aluminum

Mag.

Zinc

Other
Nonferrous

TOTAL

14,630
4,121
11,461
534
87,156
13,735
152,000
1,692,109 156,966
1,171
603
81,911
1,766
1,322
16,678
3,898
114,939
181,358
89,993
5,576K
2,312K
325,000
28,000
25,000
74,521
110,000
232,388
86,763
144,500
21,600
300,000
175,000
700
3,483
3,458
44,005
5,127
14,400
5,950
53,798
9,984
1,200,000
22,420
3,488
80,180
8,720
144,496
5,000
20,800
10,000
2,319
62,700
49,000
1,300
110,000
2,120
840,067
266,716
266,060
11,000
6,327,807 1,076,495

102,912
25,050
122,048
76,000E
979,290C
9,907
55,839
5,287C
390,241E
660,548
63,401
242,000E
30,000
777,000
1,217,129
45,500
480,000
23,278
97,922
17,450
18,100
600,000E
21,882
265,800
45,600
37,100
17,083C
267,000
3,200
41,350
1,876,997
20,500
8,635,414

3,917
4,074
2
24,506
13,100
166
72
350
5,519
1,600
5,000
78,019
136,325

10,661
1,137
7,570
146,316
580
1,935

50
1,343F
56
8
4,107
116
6,523
5,500B,C
312
115
200
2,020
1,840
2,600
170,553K
195,343

306,304
171,758
1,970,631
912,000
16,261,563
53,076
441,152
88,619
125,196
3,018,180
4,595,442
886,300
136,759
3,267,000
464,500
2,440,566
5,751,760
1,713,500
2,030,000
132,300
94,072
660,086
125,115
365,491
6,200,000
143,856
1,628,620
511,616
287,500
101,531
1,441,140
176,330
921,600
11,811,742
974,170
70,209,475

E) includes all nonferrous

F) lead castings
G) includes white iron
H) includes 15,000 high alloy cast iron (mostly High Cr ball mills)

474
66,624
2,491
5,000
79,600
34,463
100,000
6,605
1,550
1,560
2,925
16,400
3,500
4,200
1,736
50,000
1,530
297,562
844,419

I) ferrous reported only

J) includes pipe
K) includes investment castings
L) only copper reported for nonferrous

(Millions of Tons)

Country

Pictured are the casting tonnage trends for each of the Top 10 casting-producing nations over the last six years.

24

MODERN CASTING / December 2003

7. ItalyItalys shipments
grew 2% in 02 to 2.4 million
tons. Shipments remain 7%
higher than six years ago.
8. MexicoMexicos shipments grew for the fifth consecutive year to 2.03 million
tons (a 8% gain). Mexicos
shipment totals are 65% higher than in 97.
9. BrazilBrazils shipments
gained in 02 by 12% to 1.9
million tons.
10. KoreaKoreas shipments grew almost 2% in
02 (the fourth consecutive
growth year) to 1.7 million
tons. Over a six-year period, shipments have
increased 12.5%.
MC

Productivity Per Foundry Site

Shipment data typically is submitted by

each nations metalcasting trade association. Comments about participation
in the annual census should be directed
to: Census of World Casting Production,
MODERN CASTING, 505 State Street, Des
Plaines, Illinois USA 60016-8399 or e-mail:
moderncasting@afsinc.org.

(Thousands of Tons Per Year)

Gray Iron-2002

(Millions of Tons)

(Millions of Tons)

Ductile Iron-2002

Cast Aluminum-2002

(Millions of Tons)

(Millions of Tons)

Cast Steel-2002

Ilustrated are the four leading nations in the production of each of the four main cast metals.

MODERN CASTING / December 2003

25