Mobile Menu

Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

Nina Koefler Nina Koefler London, United Kingdom Last Updated: June 2025 SIC UK-C242

Revenue

£321.6bn

2025-26

£339.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xbn

Employees

524k

Businesses

5,552

Wages

£XX.Xbn

Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing in the UK industry analysis

Europe's Precious and Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry has had a volatile run recently, heavily impacted by fluctuating metal prices and the far-reaching effects of the pandemic. A significant presence scattered across the continent, including Germany, France, Italy and Eastern Europe, ensures a highly competitive market. However, it's also laden with challenges due to growing imports from cost-effective Asian countries, primarily China. The high volatility in metal prices, coupled with a drop in demand from various sectors during the pandemic and the recent economic slowdown in 2023 and 2024, has weighed on industry revenue. Still, revenue is projected to contract at a compound annual rate of 6.2% to €321.6 billion over the five years through 2025.

Trends and Insights

  • Inflation and geopolitical tensions impact metal manufacturing. Rising inflation and energy costs have disrupted the precious and non-ferrous metal manufacturing industry, hindering revenue.
  • Non-ferrous metals like aluminium face direct export losses to the US, while copper benefits from exemptions. The US’s 25% aluminium tariffs will curb EU exports to the US, but the copper and zinc tariff exemption avoids immediate disruption, offering limited relief amid broader market uncertainty.
  • Market share concentration is driven largely by operational efficiency. Successful manufacturers gain a competitive edge by optimising their refining processes, production methods and waste management, which lowers costs and enhances productivity.
Show more

Top Questions Answered in this Report

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is £321.6bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 5,552 businesses in the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 7.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include?

Aluminium and Precious metals are part of the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing 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

Manufacturers are provided with some assistance. The European government offers some subsidies and grants, including the European Raw Materials Fund, while trade associations like Eurometaux advocate for favourable regulations.

View more insights with purchase. View purchase options.

External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Metal prices have been rising and so have production costs. Technological advancements boost profitability, yet high raw material prices and the energy crisis weigh on manufacturers' profit.

View more insights with purchase. View purchase options.

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 Precious & Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing 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.

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.

To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.