As per an International Trade Administration report, the crude steel production continues to show significant growth with production increased by 47% between 2005 and 2017, which translates to 8 million metric tons in 2005 to 1.69 billion metric tons in 2017 respectively[1].  High global demand with higher levels of production and global capacity utilization rate are some of the major factors responsible for relative growth in the steel industry. Almost all the sectors from industrial to residential utilize steel, which is creating a myriad of opportunities in the steel fabrication market. As of 2018, the global steel fabrication market size hovered around $138 billion. Furthermore, the demand for steel fabrication will observe a notable CAGR of around 4.1% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2025.

APAC dominates the steel fabrication market due to rapid industrialization and several development projects and plans such as smart cities. Demand for steel fabrication is high in countries such as China, Japan, and India due to increasing in industrial activities. According to the US Geological survey, half of the world’s steel production is attributed to manufacturing units in China that exports nearly 100 million tons worldwide. This is strongly influencing the steel fabrication market in APAC[2].  Owing to the fact that steel fabrication demand is more in APAC countries, the region held the maximum demand share that was assessed around 60% in 2018. 

Steel fabrication refers to the process in which stainless fabricators turn basic raw material and steel selections into desired shapes that can be used in the construction, automotive, mining, and civil infrastructure sector. Steel fabrication can be performed in two ways. First, raw material approach or integrated route process where different materials are heated, melted, and mixed. The other way is known as electric arc furnace method of steel fabrication in which recycled steel is melted to bring steel as the end product. Stainless steel fabrication is used to produce a wide variety of components, products, and projects such as architectural metal fabrication projects.

Steel properties such as corrosion resistance, high oxidation temperature, and integrity to maintain the mechanical properties over a wide temperature range make it as a suitable material to be used in aerospace, automotive, and marine application. In April 2017, the Federal Government initiated an investigation showed that the global demand for press-hardened steel sheet that can be used for complex stamped parts and other applications will increase by 36% by 2020[3].  This press-hardened steel sheet is used in the aerospace, automotive, and marine industry in which the application CAGR would be around 8% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2025.

Steel fabrication is the process of converting steel components into the desired shape. Construction sector is highly prominent segment as steel is the most prevalently used material in the sector for various purposes like piping, structure, and others. Increasing number of construction activities such as high rise buildings, bridges, and parking garages across developing nations along with other lucrative upcoming projects will support the growth prospects in the steel fabrication market during the forecast period of 2019 to 2025.

3D printing is also known as indirect metal printing. 3D printing technology is a process to improve the efficiency and output with minimum wastage of steel. Advancement in 3D printing is gaining enormous opportunities for customization that is fueling the demand for fabricated steel products in the market.

Steel fabrication is important for the energy sector that also compromises of oil and gas, wind energy, and nuclear energy. The demand of custom steel and customized end products such as pipelines and electric power turbine components from different energy sectors will fuel the opportunities in the steel fabrication market. 

Steel is consider as the byproduct of the mining industry.  All the equipment used in mining process are produced using fabricated steel selections. Some common examples of steel selections products such as rods, beams, rails, and fitting that are integral part of the mining processes are creating massive opportunities in the steel fabrication market

Over-production of steel has directed to a reduction of high grade raw materials. The availability of high-quality raw materials is essential due to increasing demand for steel from various industries. Furthermore, the usage of low-quality raw materials have detrimental effects on environment such as greenhouse gases. The major challenges for manufactures is either to use low-quality raw material or discovering different ways to be less dependable on raw materials in general. Different research in production technology led the innovations of using recycled steel products which will alleviate the problems faced by the vendors in the steel fabrication market.  

Some of the keyplayers of steel fabrication market are Kaman Corporation, O’Neal Manufacturing Service, BTD Manufacturing Inc., Matcor-Matsu Group Inc., Mayville Engineering Comp. Inc., and Defiance Metal Products Inc.

The base year of the study is 2018, with forecast done up to 2025. The study presents a thorough analysis of the competitive landscape, taking into account the market shares of the leading companies. It also provides information on unit shipments. These provide the key market participants with the necessary business intelligence and help them understand the future of the steel fabrication market. The assessment includes the forecast, an overview of the competitive structure, the market shares of the competitors, as well as the market trends, market demands, market drivers, market challenges, and product analysis. The market drivers and restraints have been assessed to fathom their impact over the forecast period. This report further identifies the key opportunities for growth while also detailing the key challenges and possible threats. The key areas of focus include the types of steel fabrication market, and its segmentation includes carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel and tool steel. Segmentation on manufacturing process includes blast furnace and electric arc furnace.

The report analyses the product demands by the steel fabrications market on the basis of product type includes slab, billet, and bloom. On the basis of end user includes automotive, shipping, infrastructure, railways, aviation, power & energy, machine goods, and home appliances. 

The steel fabrications market report also analyzes the major geographic regions as well as the major countries in these regions. The regions and countries covered in the study include: