U.S. Casting Shipments Expected to Increase 6.3 percent in '03

摘要

A study of end-use markets shows a moderate expansion in casting shipments next year, with considerable gains projected for aluminum, ductile iron and steel. Despite better than average production of light vehicles and some growth in other market sectors most consumers of metal castings experienced back to hack yeans of decline in sales and profits Plant closings, import pressures and low utilization of capacity has hurt most metalcasters and forced changes for the future. Though some market sectors held up in the recessed economic conditions, many dropped to new lows, causing many foundries to close or mothball facilities. Continued interviews with casting buyers and analyses of the econometric forecasts, however, support optimism that the casting shipments as a whole will expand moderately in 2003 and grow annually for the next five years.