Forged into a $14.5 billion global powerhouse churning out millions of tons annually, the brass industry's true story is told not just in its impressive scale, but in the fascinating statistics that reveal a world of production giants, surging markets, and countless skilled hands shaping this essential alloy.
Key Takeaways
- Global brass production volume reached 3.2 million metric tons in 2022, marking a 4.5% increase from 2021
- China's brass ingot production totaled 1.85 million tonnes in 2023, accounting for 58% of global output
- India produced 450,000 metric tons of brass products in FY2022-23, up 7% year-over-year
- The global brass market size was valued at USD 14.5 billion in 2022
- North America brass market revenue reached USD 2.8 billion in 2023, growing at 4.1% CAGR
- Asia-Pacific brass market share was 52% of global value in 2022 at USD 7.6 billion
- Global brass demand reached 3.5 million metric tons in 2022
- Automotive sector consumed 850,000 tonnes of brass globally in 2023
- Plumbing and waterworks used 1.2 million tonnes of brass in 2022 worldwide
- Global brass imports totaled 1.8 million metric tons in 2022, valued at USD 12.3 billion
- China exported 650,000 tonnes of brass products in 2023 worth USD 4.2 billion
- US brass imports were 900,000 short tons in 2022, USD 6.1 billion
- Global brass industry employed 1.2 million direct workers in 2022
- India brass sector workforce totaled 800,000 in FY2023, 60% artisans
- China brass manufacturing employed 450,000 workers in 2023
The global brass industry grew significantly in 2022, led by China's massive production share.
Demand and Consumption
- Global brass demand reached 3.5 million metric tons in 2022
- Automotive sector consumed 850,000 tonnes of brass globally in 2023
- Plumbing and waterworks used 1.2 million tonnes of brass in 2022 worldwide
- Electrical components demand for brass was 650,000 tonnes in 2023
- Construction industry brass consumption hit 750,000 tonnes globally in 2022
- Consumer goods sector used 420,000 tonnes of brass in 2023
- Machinery and equipment demand 580,000 tonnes brass in 2022
- US brass consumption totaled 1.4 million short tons in 2023
- China's brass demand grew to 2.1 million tonnes in 2023
- India's brass consumption reached 520,000 tonnes in FY2023
- EU brass demand was 950,000 tonnes in 2022
- Japan's brass usage in electronics was 120,000 tonnes in FY2022
- Brazil consumed 110,000 tonnes of brass in 2023
- Germany's industrial brass demand 280,000 tonnes in 2022
- South Korea brass consumption 160,000 tonnes in 2023 for auto
- Italy's decorative brass demand 55,000 tonnes in 2022
- Turkey brass demand reached 250,000 tonnes in 2023
- Mexico consumed 75,000 tonnes brass in 2022
- UK's brass demand for plumbing 80,000 tonnes in 2023
- France construction brass use 60,000 tonnes in 2022
- Vietnam brass demand grew 25% to 45,000 tonnes in 2023
- Poland industrial brass consumption 120,000 tonnes in 2022
- Thailand auto brass demand 35,000 tonnes in 2023
- Spain brass for machinery 65,000 tonnes in 2022
- Australia brass consumption 30,000 tonnes in 2023
Demand and Consumption Interpretation
The world keeps turning thanks to a vast and very heavy network of valves, wires, and gears, with China and our cars alone thirsting for enough brass to build a small mountain.
Market Size
- The global brass market size was valued at USD 14.5 billion in 2022
- North America brass market revenue reached USD 2.8 billion in 2023, growing at 4.1% CAGR
- Asia-Pacific brass market share was 52% of global value in 2022 at USD 7.6 billion
- European brass market valued USD 3.2 billion in 2022, projected to USD 4.1 billion by 2030
- US brass market size hit USD 2.1 billion in 2023 with 3.8% growth
- China's brass market revenue was USD 5.4 billion in 2022
- India's brass industry market value stood at USD 1.2 billion in FY2023
- Germany brass market was EUR 2.3 billion in 2022
- Japan brass market size reached JPY 450 billion in FY2022
- Brazil brass market valued BRL 1.8 billion in 2022
- Global brass fittings segment market share was 28% in 2022 at USD 4.1 billion
- Automotive brass market globally was USD 3.7 billion in 2023
- Plumbing brass market size hit USD 4.2 billion in 2022 worldwide
- Electrical brass components market valued USD 2.9 billion in 2023
- Decorative brass market globally reached USD 1.8 billion in 2022
- Industrial machinery brass market was USD 2.1 billion in 2023
- Global brass rod market size USD 5.6 billion in 2022, CAGR 4.2% to 2030
- Brass tube market valued at USD 4.8 billion globally in 2023
- Brass sheet and plate market size was USD 3.4 billion in 2022
- Free-machining brass market reached USD 1.9 billion in 2023 worldwide
- Leaded brass market global value USD 2.3 billion in 2022
- Global brass alloy market size projected USD 18.2 billion by 2028 from 14.5B in 2022
- Middle East brass market was USD 0.9 billion in 2023
- Latin America brass market valued USD 1.4 billion in 2022
- Africa brass market size reached USD 0.7 billion in 2023
- Global brass market CAGR forecast 4.5% from 2023-2030
- Southeast Asia brass market USD 1.1 billion in 2022
Market Size Interpretation
While the world may be increasingly digital, it's clear we're still firmly, and rather profitably, screwed together, plumbed in, and wired up with brass.
Production
- Global brass production volume reached 3.2 million metric tons in 2022, marking a 4.5% increase from 2021
- China's brass ingot production totaled 1.85 million tonnes in 2023, accounting for 58% of global output
- India produced 450,000 metric tons of brass products in FY2022-23, up 7% year-over-year
- US brass mill products output was 1.2 million short tons in 2022
- Germany manufactured 320,000 tonnes of brass rods in 2022
- Italy's brass extrusion production hit 250,000 metric tons in 2021
- Japan's brass production volume stood at 180,000 tonnes in FY2022
- South Korea produced 140,000 metric tons of brass alloys in 2023
- Brazil's brass ingot output reached 95,000 tonnes in 2022
- Poland manufactured 110,000 metric tons of brass sheets in 2023
- Global brass scrap recycling for production was 1.1 million tonnes in 2022
- EU-27 brass rod production totaled 850,000 tonnes in 2022, down 2% from prior year
- Thailand's brass production capacity utilization was 78% in 2023, yielding 75,000 tonnes
- Mexico produced 65,000 metric tons of brass fittings in 2022
- Russia's brass output was 90,000 tonnes in 2022 despite sanctions
- Australia's secondary brass production from scrap reached 25,000 tonnes in 2023
- Vietnam's brass manufacturing grew to 40,000 tonnes in 2022
- Turkey produced 220,000 metric tons of brass semi-products in 2023
- France's brass forge production was 45,000 tonnes in 2022
- Spain manufactured 55,000 metric tons of brass tubes in 2023
- Indonesia's brass ingot production hit 30,000 tonnes in 2022
- UK's brass production volume was 70,000 tonnes in 2022
- Canada's brass mill output reached 35,000 short tons in 2023
- Sweden produced 28,000 tonnes of free-cutting brass in 2022
- Czech Republic's brass extrusion was 60,000 tonnes in 2023
- Global leaded brass production subset was 450,000 tonnes in 2022
- Iran's brass production totaled 80,000 metric tons in 2022-23
- Egypt manufactured 22,000 tonnes of brassware in 2023
- Malaysia's brass rod output was 18,000 tonnes in 2022
- Global brass production CAGR from 2018-2022 was 3.2%
Production Interpretation
While the world’s economies are hitting all the right notes, China’s brass section is playing a commanding solo, producing a striking 58% of the global output, leaving the rest of the orchestra to harmonize around its dominant melody.
Trade
- Global brass imports totaled 1.8 million metric tons in 2022, valued at USD 12.3 billion
- China exported 650,000 tonnes of brass products in 2023 worth USD 4.2 billion
- US brass imports were 900,000 short tons in 2022, USD 6.1 billion
- India brass exports reached USD 1.5 billion in FY2023, volume 380,000 tonnes
- Germany exported 220,000 tonnes brass in 2022, value EUR 1.8 billion
- Italy brass exports USD 1.2 billion in 2023, 190,000 tonnes
- Japan brass imports 150,000 tonnes in FY2022, USD 1.1 billion
- South Korea exported 130,000 tonnes brass in 2023, USD 900 million
- Brazil brass imports 95,000 tonnes in 2022, value USD 650 million
- Turkey brass exports hit 210,000 tonnes in 2023, USD 1.4 billion
- EU brass imports totaled 550,000 tonnes in 2022, USD 3.9 billion
- Vietnam brass exports grew to 55,000 tonnes USD 380 million in 2023
- Mexico brass exports 60,000 tonnes in 2022, USD 420 million to US
- Poland brass imports 105,000 tonnes in 2023, value EUR 750 million
- Thailand exported 45,000 tonnes brass in 2022, USD 310 million
- Russia brass exports 75,000 tonnes despite sanctions USD 520 million 2023
- France brass imports 50,000 tonnes in 2022, EUR 380 million
- Spain exported 52,000 tonnes brass USD 360 million in 2023
- UK brass imports 75,000 tonnes GBP 550 million in 2022
- Canada brass trade balance deficit USD 200 million 2023 volume 40k tonnes import
- Indonesia brass exports 28,000 tonnes USD 190 million in 2022
- Australia's brass imports 25,000 tonnes AUD 220 million 2023
Trade Interpretation
The world's brass section is playing a surprisingly loud and expensive tune, where China leads as the principal exporter, the US conducts as the top importer, and even sanctioned Russia manages a faint, defiant note in the global orchestra of metal trade.
Workforce and Sustainability
- Global brass industry employed 1.2 million direct workers in 2022
- India brass sector workforce totaled 800,000 in FY2023, 60% artisans
- China brass manufacturing employed 450,000 workers in 2023
- US brass industry jobs 45,000 in 2022, down 1.5% YoY
- Germany brass sector had 35,000 employees in 2023
- Italy brass artisans and factories employed 28,000 in 2022
- Global brass recycling rate reached 65% in 2023, saving 1.5M tonnes virgin material
- EU brass industry CO2 emissions per tonne dropped 12% to 2.8 tonnes in 2022
- India's Moradabad brass cluster employed 250,000 craftsmen in 2023
- Japan brass workforce 22,000 skilled in 2023, aging average 48 years
- Brazil brass sector jobs 18,000 in 2022
- Turkey brass industry employed 40,000 in 2023
- US brass recycling employed 12,000 workers in 2023
- Global brass water usage per tonne production averaged 45 cubic meters in 2022
- China brass plants energy efficiency improved 15% in 2023
- EU brass workforce training programs covered 8,000 workers in 2022
- Vietnam brass factories employed 15,000 in 2023
- Poland brass sector 20,000 jobs in 2022
- Global brass GHG emissions totaled 8.2 million tonnes CO2e in 2022
- India's brass industry waste recycling rate 72% in 2023
- Mexico brass workforce 12,000 in 2022
- UK brass sustainability certifications held by 85% of producers in 2023
- Thailand brass employment 10,000 in 2023
Workforce and Sustainability Interpretation
While India employs an army of artisans to handcraft its brass heritage and China powers its factories with staggering workforces, the developed world's smaller, greying brass sectors are scrambling to prove their worth not by mass, but through superior recycling, efficiency, and sustainability credentials.
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