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Iron & Steel Casting in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

Nina Koefler Nina Koefler London, United Kingdom Last Updated: May 2025 SIC UK-C2431

Revenue

£27.6bn

2025-26

£28.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

176k

Businesses

3,545

Wages

£X.Xbn

Iron & Steel Casting in the UK industry analysis

The European Iron and Steel Casting industry has evolved significantly in recent years, shaped by geopolitical, economic and technological factors. Casters have wrestled with considerable challenges resulting from global trade wars, stringent environmental regulations and volatility in metal prices. According to the World Steel Association, steel prices rose by 110% in 2021 due to pent-up demand and shortages of raw materials and intermediates after the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. After significant revenue growth in 2021, driven by rising metal prices, foundries faced challenges in form of high interest rates and escalating building costs. A downturn in the manufacturing sector since 2023 has dented iron and steel casters’ sales. Still, revenue is expected to rise at a compound annual rate of 3.6% over the five years through 2025 to €27.6 billion, including an estimated 0.7% slump in 2025.

Trends and Insights

  • The shift to electric vehicles hits sales. Iron and steel casters are having to adjust their strategies, as EVs require fewer cast components than traditional vehicles.
  • European iron and steel exports to the US will drop due to the 25% tariff. Europe will see a decline in demand thanks to the removal of product exemptions and tariff rate quotas.
  • Low concentration characterises the market. While a few dominant manufacturers control a significant portion of the market, competition is still fierce.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom is £27.6bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 3,545 businesses in the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 4.8 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom include?

Steel castings for machinery and mechanical appliances and Steel castings for locomotives and rolling stock are part of the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Iron & Steel Casting industry in the United Kingdom.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Table of Contents

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

European iron and steel casters come up against stringent regulations. European laws necessitate the reduction of carbon emissions and energy usage, enforce anti-dumping duties and promote fair competition.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Iron & Steel Casting in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Rising energy costs damage profit. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove a huge surge in energy prices, pushing up casters’ costs and eating into their returns. It also cut into demand for iron and steel commodities, further limiting profit.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Iron & Steel Casting in the UK industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and bottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2025)
  • Business Growth (2025)
  • Job Growth (2025)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2025)
  • Imports/Demand (2025)
  • Exports/Revenue (2025)
  • Revenue per Employee (2025)
  • Wages/Revenue (2025)
  • Employees per Establishment (2025)
  • Average Wage (2025)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

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