Global Shipments of Metal Castings to Reach 90 Million Tons in 2008

摘要

Shipments of metal castings worldwide are forecast to increase at an average annual rate of 2. 4 percent from 2004 to 2008 and reach 90 million tons (Table Aluminum castings have the highest rate of growth at 5 percent. and ductile iron is second at 3.8 percent. The low growth of gray iron. at 1.3 percent. is caused by the conversion of automotive applications to aluminum and pipe applications to ductile iron. as well as by the loss of ingot molds and rolls with the increase of mini mills throughout the world. The 11 countries and regions that produce more than 97 percent of the metal castings in the world are shown in Table 1 China. Brazil. Mexico and Korea continue to gain in market share while other regions and countries decrease.