In 2015, the total output of castings in China was about 24420000t, an increase of 75% compared with 2010. The total number of foundry plants is about 30000, including 19200 iron casting plants, 5700 steel casting plants and 4300 non-ferrous alloy plants. There are about 1.2 million workers engaged in the foundry industry, of which technical workers account for 3 ∙ 5%. In addition, about 400 people graduate from nearly 10 technical secondary schools and about 1500 people graduate from nearly 50 universities each year.
In 2015, China’s casting output accounted for 28.5% of the world’s total output, which has continued to grow since 2000. The ratio of casting output of several major casting producing countries in the world to the world’s total output in 2014 and 2015 fully shows the leading position of China’s casting output in the world. However, the export proportion of castings in China is still very low, only 9 ∙ 28% in 2005.
The labor cost and raw material price of China’s foundry industry are relatively lower than those of other countries. However, the productivity is only 20t per person per year, which is far lower than that of other countries, such as 133 t in the United States and 140 ∙ 85t in Japan.
At present, China’s foundry industry has a certain scientific research, development and production capacity. About 40000 scientists and engineers are engaged in this field, and they have relatively good research and development equipment. It has been able to independently produce a series of important industrial castings, such as 743t plate mill frame and single crystal blade, as well as many complex civil castings, such as handicrafts.
In 2015, China’s casting consumption involved several main fields, among which internal combustion engine, agricultural machinery, automobile, cast pipe parts and heavy machinery accounted for more than 70%.