European Contraction and Global Shifts The European metal casting industry is facing severe headwinds driven by a protracted crisis in the automotive sector. Historically, automakers provided the massive volume orders required to keep foundries profitable, leaving suppliers struggling to find replacement markets of comparable scale. Despite the European slowdown, the global foundry market continues to expand. Professor Rafał Dańko of the AGH University in Krakow and President of the World Foundry Organisation emphasized that this worldwide growth is now primarily fueled by surging production in China and India.
Turkey Capitalizes on EU Vulnerabilities As European—particularly German—foundries close, Turkey is aggressively expanding its market share. Speaking at the 76th World Foundry Congress in Istanbul, Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat revealed that national production reached 2.3 million tons in 2025 out of a 3-million-ton capacity. Generating roughly €8 billion in total value, the sector exported 1.64 million tons worth €6.1 billion, largely to the European Union. Turkey now controls roughly a fifth of the EU market, ranking second in Europe and seventh globally.
Cooperation Over Competition Oğuzhan Deniz, President of the Turkish Foundry Association (TÜDÖKSAD), urged EU and Turkish producers to view each other as strategic partners rather than adversaries, pointing to cheap Asian imports as the true mutual threat. He stressed that survival depends on embracing digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and energy efficiency. Till Schreiter of VDMA Metallurgy echoed this, noting that strategic decisions made today will dictate competitiveness for years. Looking ahead, Malte Seifert announced that next June’s „The Bright World of Metals” trade fair in Dusseldorf aims to turn these technological discussions into concrete business alliances.
Showcasing Future Technologies The Istanbul congress gathered over 1,000 participants from 50 nations and was held alongside the Ankiros trade fair. Exhibitors showcased a comprehensive array of metallurgical innovations, including automated melting technologies, thermal processing systems, and environmental filtration equipment. The event featured a robust Polish academic presence, with representatives from the AGH University of Science and Technology, as well as the Silesian and Rzeszów Universities of Technology, driving discussions on the future of casting.
