Market Trends of High Speed Steel Industry
The Automotive Industry is Expected to Dominate the Market
- High-speed steel is used in many ways in the automotive industry to make vehicles lighter, stiffer, and better at absorbing energy in some places.
- High-speed steel has various properties that enhance its demand in the automotive industry, such as mechanical properties and ranges, thickness and width capabilities, hot- and cold-rolled availability, coating specifications, and chemical composition specifications.
- In the automotive industry, steel's strength is usually determined by its microstructure, which varies based on its chemical makeup, its history with heat, and the deformation processes it goes through during its production schedule.
- High-speed steel has a lot of advantages over regular steel, especially in the automotive industry, where weight is a significant factor in how well fuel is used. The mechanical properties, such as weldability, fatigue, static strength, cathodic protection, and resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, are useful to the auto industry.
- High-speed steel is used in structural applications such as camshaft and crankshaft sprockets, connecting rods, synchronizer rings, bearing caps, oil pump gears, etc. The stainless steel used in these applications includes engine valve seats. Ferrous-based alloys, such as Fe-Cr-Mn-Si materials, are used in shock absorber parts, filters for hydraulic systems, manifold flanges, exhaust converter outlet flanges, and exhaust gas recirculation systems.
- The automotive industry has been witnessing an upsurge in demand for both conventional and electric vehicles post-pandemic, primarily due to the increased traveling activities of people across the globe.
- According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), in 2022, around 85.01 million vehicles were produced worldwide, showcasing a growth rate of 5.99% compared to 80.20 million vehicles in 2021.
- In North America, according to the OICA, automotive production in 2022 accounted for 14,798,146 units, an increase of 9.88% compared to the show in 2021, which was reportedly 13,467,065 units. Additionally, in North America, the sales of electric vehicles in 2022 accounted for 1,108 thousand units, compared to 748 thousand unit sales in 2021.
- In Europe, Germany is among the key manufacturers of vehicles. The automobile manufacturing industry in Germany is a prominent shareholder of the overall automotive production in the European region. The country hosts major car-making brands, including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Porsche, etc.
- According to the Organization Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA), in 2022, the country produced 3,677,820 vehicles, which increased by 11% compared to 3,308,692 cars in 2021.
- Overall, the increasing usage of high-speed steel for better fuel efficiency and lighter vehicles will boost the growth of the automotive industry.
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Asia-Pacific is Expected to Dominate the Market
- During the next few years, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the largest market for high-speed steel. In countries like China and India, the growth of industries like automotive, aerospace, and others has caused the demand for high-speed steel to surge.
- The production and sales in the Asia-Pacific region are primarily dominated by countries like China, India, and Japan, which consist of large automotive manufacturers and a vast number of production bases within the countries.
- According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), China had the most significant automotive production base globally, with a total vehicle production of 27 million units in 2022, an increase of 3.4% compared to 2021.
- In China, the main focus is to increase production and sales of electric vehicles. The country has set a target to produce 7 million electric vehicles per year by 2025. By 2025, the goal is to have electric vehicles comprise 20% of total new vehicle production in China.
- India has become the second-largest automotive vehicle manufacturer in the region. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in FY 2022-23, the total number of automobile manufacturers in the country grew by about 12.55% compared to FY 2021-2022, recording 25,931,867 units.
- According to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), motor vehicle production in the country in 2023 grew by 14.84%, recording 8,998,538 units.
- During the forecast period, these changes are likely to increase the need for high-speed steel.
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