SCHAUMBURG, IL - Twice each year, the American Foundry Society publishes the “Metalcasting Forecast & Trends.” This report, which is an essential tool for understanding the North American metalcasting market and making company planning decisions, is distributed at no cost to the 1,075 AFS Corporate Members. It is available to non-members for $1,000 and to Individual Members for $750. In this mid-year update, AFS is projecting casting sales will grow 1.9 percent in 2025.
Noted Doug Kurkul, CEO of AFS: “After several years of robust casting sales growth, 2024 was an unusually slow year. Sales figures were flat or slightly down across a broad cross-section of metalcasters. For 2025, AFS is projecting a 1.9% overall increase in casting sales. That figure masks a wide divergence among foundries, in that some are seeing robust demand for castings, while other foundries have seen orders decline significantly. We expect overall casting sales to grow faster in 2026 to 2029 as tax, regulatory and tariff policies become more certain. The July 2025 enactment of the AFS-backed tax cut bill is a big step in that direction.”
“Operating costs for metalcasters surged in 2021-2022 as the nation faced a historic rise in inflation,” Kurkul continued. “Our analysis shows that operating costs are returning to more historic levels at this time. The most recent government data for the foundry industry from 2023 to 2024 showed a producer pricing index of 2.2 percent. In another positive sign, foundries are continuing to invest in plant modernization, automation and expansion. Well over 90 percent of foundries are making capital investments in 2025.”
This report, which includes detailed statistics, advanced metrics and forecasts about the metalcasting industry, is based on detailed analysis of government data as well as AFS survey results and conversations with metalcasting industry leaders. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in the information provided. Major economic or political events could affect the forecast information. Questions about the report may be posed to Ben Yates at byates@afsinc.org.
The American Foundry Society is a dynamic technical and advocacy organization that serves and represents the $50 billion metalcasting industry. AFS is the only association serving the entire industry, including all metals and processes, with a three-part focus on advocacy, education, and innovation. AFS also publishes Modern Casting and Casting Source magazines and presents Metalcasting Congress and CastExpo, the largest metalcasting trade events in North America. Founded in 1896, the organization is based in Schaumburg, Illinois, with an advocacy office in Washington, D.C. More information is available at AFSinc.org. |