Aug 6, 2026Industry News
Authoritative 2025 China Foundry Industry Data Released: Total Castings Output Hits 52.3 Million Tons, Aluminum‑Magnesium Castings Lead Growth
According to China Foundry Association data, China’s total casting output hit 52.3 million tons in 2025, up 3.1% year‑on‑year. Light‑weight aluminum‑magnesium alloy castings maintained rapid growth.
Release Date: May 08, 2026
Source: China Foundry Association
Background
At the 22nd Annual Conference of China Foundry Association in May 2026, the official 2025 China Foundry Industry Report was unveiled. Wang Dongsheng, Secretary‑General of China Foundry Association, interpreted full‑year statistics on capacity, output, material mix, downstream demand and import‑export performance, together with Q1 2026 market trends, delivering authoritative references for foundry consumables, casting and equipment manufacturers.
Core Output Data
- Total Castings OutputChina’s total casting output reached 52.3 million tons in 2025, rising by 3.1% year‑on‑year and hitting the second‑highest level in history. China has ranked No.1 in global casting output for 25 consecutive years, accounting for around 45% of worldwide casting production.
- Output & Proportion by Material
- Grey iron castings: 40.2%, still the mainstream base casting material
- Ductile iron castings: 27.2%, steady demand from construction machinery and hydraulic valve bodies
- Steel castings: 12.3%, growing demand from high‑end equipment, wind power and new energy sectors
- Light‑weight Al‑Mg alloy castings: 9.05 million tons, up 8.8% year‑on‑year, accounting for 17.3% of total output. New‑energy‑vehicle lightweight integrated die‑casting acts as the major growth driver.
- Downstream Demand Structure Automotive industry remains the largest downstream consumer, consuming 15.8 million tons of castings (30.2% market share). Wind power, rail transit, construction machinery and general machinery follow closely, fueling rising demand for high‑precision cast components.
Import & Export of Foundry Equipment
- In 2025, exports of cold‑chamber die‑casting machines reached 853 units (+12.2% YoY), while imports dropped to 75 units (-17.6% YoY). Domestic die‑casting equipment is steadily replacing imported products.
- Q1 2026 saw 275 exported cold‑chamber die‑casting machines, a 47.1% year‑on‑year surge. Southeast Asia and Middle East bring massive new overseas orders.
Key Industry Trends
- High‑end lightweight transformationBooming new‑energy‑vehicle industry boosts Al‑Mg alloy casting production. Spherical foundry sands including ceramic bead sand and sintered ceramsite sand with low thermal expansion and excellent recyclability gain higher adoption in steel casting, lost‑foam casting and resin‑bonded sand processes. Foundries are eager for solutions of higher quality, lower cost and emission reduction.
- Green & low‑carbon upgrade accelerates capacity eliminationStricter environmental regulations are phasing out backward small‑scale foundries. Large‑and‑medium foundries equipped with used‑sand reclamation and eco‑friendly consumables expand market share. Waste‑sand reduction and recycling have become rigid requirements for modern foundries.
- Promising overseas market prospectsRising manufacturing activities across Southeast Asia drive export growth of castings, foundry raw materials and casting machinery. METAL THAILAND 2026 serves as a vital platform for Chinese enterprises to connect ASEAN buyers.
- Shift from scale expansion to quality‑oriented competitionLow‑cost silica‑sand‑only solutions face growing limitations. High‑performance molding sand that minimizes casting defects and reclamation loss becomes critical for foundries to cut comprehensive production costs.
Summary
China’s foundry industry recovered in 2025, mainly driven by automotive lightweight and high‑end equipment manufacturing. Material mix keeps shifting toward light alloys and premium special foundry materials, creating long‑term opportunities for green, recyclable and precision‑casting supporting materials. Sharp export growth in Q1 2026 proves Southeast Asia will be a key incremental market for Chinese foundry‑material suppliers.
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