Forging industry work connects regions, materials, and end markets. It spans direct factory employment in the United States and large workforces across Asia, particularly China and India. Demand is shaped by automotive use of forged steel, alongside aerospace, oil & gas, and power generation. On this page, you’ll see how global output, material mix, and market growth fit together.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the US forging industry employed 28,500 workers directly
- Global forging workforce estimated at 1.2 million in 2022, with 40% in Asia
- India forging sector employed 250,000 people in FY2022
- Automotive industry consumed 55% of global forged steel, 18.2 million tons 2022
- Aerospace sector used 12% of world forgings, 5.5 million tons 2022
- Oil & gas applications accounted for 15% forging demand, 6.8 million tons 2022
- In 2022, the global forging market was valued at USD 82.5 billion and is projected to reach USD 112.4 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2023 to 2030
- The North American forging market size was estimated at USD 12.4 billion in 2022 and expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2023 to 2030, driven by automotive demand
- Asia Pacific dominated the forging market with a 45% revenue share in 2022, fueled by rapid industrialization in China and India
- Global steel forging material usage reached 42.3 million tons in 2022, representing 65% of total forgings
- Aluminum alloys comprised 18% of global forging materials by volume in 2022, totaling 7.8 million tons
- Titanium and superalloys used in 2.1% of forgings, 950,000 tons globally 2022
- In 2022, US forging industry shipped 2.1 million tons of forgings, up 4% from 2021
- China produced 12.5 million metric tons of forged products in 2022
- Global steel forging production reached 45.6 million tons in 2022
In 2022, global steel forging demand and production surged, led by Asia, with the market forecast to keep growing through 2030.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Data26 stats
01
In 2022, the US forging industry employed 28,500 workers directly
02
Global forging workforce estimated at 1.2 million in 2022, with 40% in Asia
03
India forging sector employed 250,000 people in FY2022
04
China forging industry direct jobs 450,000 in 2022
05
Germany forging employment 35,000 workers in 2022, down 3% YoY
06
Japan JFIA members employed 120,000 in forging FY2022
07
Europe total forging jobs 180,000 in 2021
08
US forging establishments numbered 500 in 2022, employing 28,500
09
Brazil forging industry workforce 25,000 in 2022
10
South Korea forging employment 45,000 in 2022
11
Italy forging sector jobs 22,000 in 2022
12
UK forging employment 12,500 in 2022
13
France forging workforce 18,000 in 2022
14
Russia forging jobs 55,000 in 2022
15
Mexico forging employment 15,000 in 2022
16
Turkey forging sector 28,000 workers 2022
17
Spain forging jobs 9,500 in 2022
18
Poland forging employment 12,000 in 2022
19
Australia forging workforce 4,200 in 2022
20
Canada forging jobs 6,800 in 2022
21
Global forging average wage USD 45,000/year in 2022
22
India forging labor force growth 2.5% YoY to 250,000 in FY2022
23
US forging industry labor productivity up 5.2% to 75 tons/worker in 2022
24
China forging employment density 15 workers per million tons output 2022
25
Europe forging apprenticeship programs trained 5,200 new workers in 2022
26
Japan forging overtime hours averaged 180/year per worker FY2022
Interpretation
Employment Data Interpretation
The employment picture for the forging industry shows a clear geographic concentration, with global forging employment reaching 1.2 million in 2022 and 40% located in Asia, while key national snapshots range from 28,500 direct US workers to 450,000 direct jobs in China.
02 · Category
End Use Applications21 stats
01
Automotive industry consumed 55% of global forged steel, 18.2 million tons 2022
02
Aerospace sector used 12% of world forgings, 5.5 million tons 2022
03
Oil & gas applications accounted for 15% forging demand, 6.8 million tons 2022
04
Power generation (turbines) 8% share, 3.6 million tons forgings 2022
05
Railways consumed 7% global forgings, 3.2 million tons 2022
06
Shipbuilding forging usage 4.5% , 2.0 million tons 2022
07
Construction machinery 9% share, 4.1 million tons 2022
08
Defense/military forgings 5% global, 2.3 million tons 2022
09
Wind turbine components 3.2%, 1.5 million tons forgings 2022
10
Mining equipment forgings 2.8%, 1.3 million tons 2022
11
Agricultural machinery 6.1%, 2.8 million tons 2022
12
Medical implants and tools 1.2%, 550,000 tons specialized 2022
13
Valves and fittings in oil & gas 1.8 million tons forgings 2022
14
Crankshafts for autos 4.2 million tons forged globally 2022
15
Landing gear forgings for aircraft 280,000 tons 2022
16
Gears and shafts in industrial apps 5.5 million tons 2022
17
Pressure vessels forgings 1.1 million tons power sector 2022
18
EV drivetrain forgings grew to 1.8 million tons 2022
19
Hand tools forgings 850,000 tons consumer market 2022
20
Flanges for pipelines 2.4 million tons oil & gas 2022
21
Connecting rods autos 3.1 million tons 2022
Interpretation
End Use Applications Interpretation
In the end use applications of forged steel, automotive dominates with 55% consumption and 18.2 million tons in 2022, showing that road transportation is the primary driver while aerospace and oil and gas follow at 12% and 15% respectively.
03 · Category
Market Size And Forecasts30 stats
01
In 2022, the global forging market was valued at USD 82.5 billion and is projected to reach USD 112.4 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2023 to 2030
02
The North American forging market size was estimated at USD 12.4 billion in 2022 and expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2023 to 2030, driven by automotive demand
03
Asia Pacific dominated the forging market with a 45% revenue share in 2022, fueled by rapid industrialization in China and India
04
The European forging industry market was valued at EUR 15.2 billion in 2021, with a projected CAGR of 3.5% through 2028
05
Global hot forging segment accounted for 68% of the total forging market revenue in 2022
06
Cold forging market size reached USD 25.6 billion globally in 2022, expected to grow to USD 35.8 billion by 2029 at CAGR 4.8%
07
Aerospace forging sub-market was valued at USD 10.2 billion in 2023, with 5.1% CAGR forecast to 2030 due to aircraft production rise
08
Automotive forging components market hit USD 45.3 billion in 2022, projected CAGR 4.0% to USD 62.1 billion by 2030
09
US forging market revenue was USD 11.8 billion in 2022, growing at 3.7% CAGR through 2032
10
India's forging industry capacity utilization stood at 75% in FY2022, with market size of INR 45,000 crore
11
Global forging market for wind turbine components valued at USD 2.1 billion in 2021, CAGR 6.2% to 2028
12
Precision forging market size was USD 8.9 billion in 2022, expected to reach USD 14.2 billion by 2031 at 5.4% CAGR
13
China’s forging output market share was 38% of global in 2022, valued at CNY 450 billion
14
Open die forging segment revenue share was 32% in global market 2022
15
Forging market in oil & gas sector valued USD 9.5 billion 2022, CAGR 4.5% forecast
16
Japan forging industry sales reached JPY 1.2 trillion in FY2022
17
Closed die forging dominated with 55% market share by type in 2023 globally
18
Middle East & Africa forging market growth at 5.1% CAGR from 2023-2030
19
Forged steel rings market size USD 4.7 billion 2022, to USD 6.8 billion by 2030
20
South America forging market valued USD 3.2 billion 2022, CAGR 3.8%
21
Global upset forging market at USD 5.1 billion 2023, growth 4.9% CAGR
22
UK forging sector turnover £2.1 billion in 2022
23
Forging consumables market USD 1.8 billion 2022, CAGR 4.2%
24
Global near-net-shape forging market valued USD 12.3 billion 2022
25
Germany forging production value €8.5 billion 2022
26
Flashless forging process market share 22% in 2023
27
World forging market for EV components USD 3.4 billion 2023, CAGR 7.5%
28
Canada forging industry revenue CAD 2.8 billion 2022
29
Impression die forging segment 48% revenue share 2022
30
Global forging market CAGR historical 2017-2022 averaged 3.2%
Interpretation
Market Size And Forecasts Interpretation
For the market size and forecasts perspective, the global forging industry is set to grow from USD 82.5 billion in 2022 to USD 112.4 billion by 2030 at a notable CAGR, while Asia Pacific leads with 45% revenue share in 2022 and hot forging alone accounts for 68% of total revenue.
More related reading
04 · Category
Material Usage20 stats
01
Global steel forging material usage reached 42.3 million tons in 2022, representing 65% of total forgings
02
Aluminum alloys comprised 18% of global forging materials by volume in 2022, totaling 7.8 million tons
03
Titanium and superalloys used in 2.1% of forgings, 950,000 tons globally 2022
04
Copper and brass forgings material consumption 1.2 million tons worldwide 2022
05
Nickel-based alloys for high-temp forgings 450,000 tons used 2022
06
Carbon steel forgings material share 45% in automotive sector 2022
07
Stainless steel forging usage grew 6% to 5.6 million tons globally 2022
08
Magnesium alloys in lightweight forgings 320,000 tons 2022
09
Tool steel material for dies and tools 1.8 million tons forged 2022
10
Alloy steel dominated aerospace forgings at 72% material share 2022
11
Global scrap metal recycling rate in forging 85% for steel in 2022
12
Invar and other low-expansion alloys 50,000 tons forged 2022
13
Powder metallurgy preforms for forging used 2.5 million tons steel equiv 2022
14
Cobalt alloys in medical forgings 15,000 tons 2022
15
High-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel forgings 8.4 million tons 2022
16
Global forging material cost index rose 12% for steel in 2022
17
Maraging steel usage in defense forgings 120,000 tons 2022
18
Recycled aluminum in forgings 92% of total aluminum used 2022
19
Molybdenum addition in alloy steels for forgings averaged 0.45% in 2022
20
Shape memory alloys experimental forging 8,000 tons 2022
Interpretation
Material Usage Interpretation
In the material usage category, steel dominates forging demand with 42.3 million tons in 2022 accounting for 65% of total forgings, while aluminum alloys still represent a major share at 18% or 7.8 million tons, and other specialty metals like titanium and superalloys remain niche at 2.1% or 950,000 tons.
05 · Category
Production Statistics29 stats
01
In 2022, US forging industry shipped 2.1 million tons of forgings, up 4% from 2021
02
China produced 12.5 million metric tons of forged products in 2022
03
Global steel forging production reached 45.6 million tons in 2022
04
India’s forging production volume was 1.8 million tons in FY2022
05
Europe total forging output 8.2 million tons in 2021, down 2% YoY
06
Japan forged 1.45 million tons of automotive components in FY2022
07
US hot forging production 1.2 million tons in 2022
08
Global aluminum forging output 3.4 million tons 2022, CAGR 4.1% prior years
09
Germany produced 950,000 tons of forgings in 2022
10
Brazil forging industry output 450,000 tons 2022
11
Aerospace forgings global production 850,000 tons 2022
12
South Korea steel forging production 1.1 million tons 2022
13
Italy forging output 420,000 tons 2022, down 1.5%
14
Global titanium forging production 120,000 tons 2022
15
France produced 380,000 tons of open die forgings 2022
16
Russia forging production 1.2 million tons 2022 despite sanctions
17
Automotive sector global forging output 22.5 million tons 2022
18
UK forging production 250,000 tons 2022
19
Closed die forging global production 28.4 million tons 2022
20
Mexico forging output 320,000 tons 2022, up 5%
21
Copper alloy forgings world production 450,000 tons 2022
22
Spain produced 180,000 tons forgings 2022
23
Wind energy forgings production 1.2 million tons globally 2022
24
Turkey forging industry output 550,000 tons 2022
25
Magnesium forging production global 85,000 tons 2022
26
Australia forging output 95,000 tons 2022
27
Oil & gas forgings production 4.8 million tons 2022
28
Poland produced 210,000 tons forgings 2022
29
Nickel alloy forgings global output 65,000 tons 2022
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Production Statistics show that global steel forging output hit 45.6 million tons in 2022 while major markets were largely expanding, with the US reaching 2.1 million tons up 4% and China producing 12.5 million metric tons.
report visual · Key figures
Global and regional forging workforce snapshot (2022)
Workforce is concentrated heavily in Asia, with major direct employment also in the US and China.
28,500
In 2022, the US forging industry employed 28,500 workers directly
450,000
China forging industry direct jobs 450,000 in 2022
250,000
India forging sector employed 250,000 people in FY2022
40%
Global forging workforce estimated at 1.2 million in 2022, with 40% in Asia
3%
Germany forging employment 35,000 workers in 2022, down 3% YoY
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Forging Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/forging-industry-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Forging Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/forging-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Forging Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/forging-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
75 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level