Market Trends of India Foundry Industry
Growing Automobile Sector is Driving the Foundry Market in India
- The Indian foundry market is primarily driven by rapid industrialization and urbanization, which have increased the utilization of the metal casting process across the country. The surge in automobile manufacturing is also a significant factor boosting market growth.
- India stood as one of the world's leading countries in vehicle production. In the financial year 2023, the total vehicle production in India reached around 25.93 million units, marking an increase from the previous year, as reported by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). In 2020, the production value experienced a contraction primarily due to the introduction of the new Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emissions standards on April 1, 2020, and an overall scaled-down production due to the lower stock of the old BS-IV vehicles. The coronavirus pandemic in India further exacerbated the subsequent decline in production.
- According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in 2022, India produced approximately 22.93 million vehicles, encompassing commercial vehicles, passenger cars, tricycles, and two-wheelers. The automotive industry experienced a 13.63% growth in sales in 2022 compared to 2021. Specifically, motorcycle sales increased by 4.7% in 2022 over the previous year, according to SIAM.
- Another significant driver for the Indian foundry market's growth is the increasing government expenditure on infrastructure expansion, stimulating demand for various machinery and equipment such as pumps, cranes, fans, motors, and conveyor belts. This surge in demand, in turn, amplifies the need for metal castings.
- Consequently, there is an escalated demand for auto parts necessary for automobile manufacturing. To address this growing demand for metal castings in India, foundries are investing in new technology and equipment. The anticipated benefits from these investments include lower power consumption, improved production efficiency, higher utilization rates, and increased profit margins for Indian foundries. Therefore, the burgeoning automobile industry is expected to drive the growth of the Indian foundry market during the forecast period.
Increasing Government Support for the Indian Foundry market
- The Indian Foundry Industry data indicates approximately 500,000 direct and 15,00,00 indirect employees, making it a significant source of employment, primarily for socially and economically disadvantaged sections. Forecasts suggest the potential creation of an additional 2 million jobs over the next decade due to the industry's labor-intensive nature.
- According to the 56th World Casting Census by Modern Castings USA (January 2023), China, India, and the US lead global casting production, with production ramping up after a COVID-induced two-year hiatus. China reported 54.05 million tonnes of casting, followed by India as the world's second-largest producer, with 12.49 million tonnes.
- India's foundries are actively upgrading their facilities and technologies to enhance productivity and expand capacity, responding to escalating demand. A majority of these foundries fall under the MSME sector, which has demonstrated consistent growth. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (India) and the India Brand Equity Foundation reported nearly 13.8 million micro-enterprises, constituting 96 percent of the MSME sector. Small and medium enterprises accounted for three and 0.28 percent, respectively, totaling more than 14 million registered MSMEs.
- In the second financial year of 2023, over two trillion INR (USD 24 billion) was disbursed in the MSME segment in India, as reported by SIDBI. Reinforced implementation of initiatives like the Public Procurement Policy, Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, Make in India, Startup India, and Skill India are catalysts fostering the growth of the MSME sector. This surge in government support is expected to further propel the foundry market in the foreseeable future.