Metal Product Shipments, Construction Spending to Spur US Demand for Welding Equipment

Cleveland, OH, June 18, 2024 — US demand for welding equipment and supplies is expected to advance 5.9% annually in nominal terms through 2028, according to Welding Equipment & Supplies: United States, a report recently released by Freedonia Focus Reports. The following indicators will drive advances:

• Fabrication of metal products, shipments of which are expected to increase slightly to 2028, will support welding activity.

• Building construction expenditures are expected to grow 4.4% annually through 2028, while nonbuilding construction expenditures are projected to advance 5.5% yearly over the same period. Increasing construction activity will spur demand for welding equipment for building frames, infrastructure, and metal pipe.

• Motor vehicle production is anticipated to grow 0.7% annually through 2028, which will support demand for welding equipment used in the manufacture of light and heavy duty vehicles.

• Shipments of aerospace equipment and other transportation equipment are projected to advance 3.9% per year to 2028, supporting demand for welding equipment for the construction of aircraft frames and railroad rolling stock.

However, the long service life of welding equipment leads to slow replacement cycles, which tempers advances. Supplies such as welding rods are an exception to this, as they are purposely consumed with use.

Demand for welding equipment is expected to grow 9.6% in 2024, with the majority of gains stemming from the resistance welding segment, which will see strong advances as demand returns to trend following losses over the previous two years. Gains will be fueled by growth in construction and motor vehicle industries. Large-scale investments in the production of electric vehicles will support demand for welding equipment. Legislative actions, such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (November 2021) and the CHIPS and Science Act (August 2022) will also support demand for welding equipment in various end markets, especially construction, throughout the forecast period.

These and other key insights are featured in Welding Equipment & Supplies: United States. This report forecasts to 2028 US welding equipment and supplies demand and shipments in nominal US dollars at the manufacturer level. Total demand is segmented by product in terms of:

• arc welders and components

• arc welding electrodes

• resistance welding equipment and components

• gas welding equipment and components

• other products such as electron beam, laser, and ultrasonic welding equipment and components

To illustrate historical trends, total demand, total shipments, the various segments, and trade are provided in annual series from 2013 to 2023.

Welding personal protective equipment (e.g., welding helmets, hoods, gloves) and shipments of gases used in welding are excluded from the scope of this report. Re-exports of welding equipment and supplies are excluded from demand and trade figures.

More information about the report is available at:

About Freedonia Focus Reports

Each month, The Freedonia Group publishes over 20 new or updated Freedonia Focus Reports, providing fresh, unbiased analysis on a wide variety of markets and industries. Published in 20-30 pages, Focus Report coverage ranges from raw materials to finished manufactured goods and related services such as freight and construction. Additional Machinery & Equipment reports can be purchased at Freedonia Focus Reports.

Analysis is intended to guide the busy reader through pertinent topics in rapid succession, including:

• total historical market size and industry output

• segmentation by products and markets

• identification of market drivers, constraints, and key indicators

• segment-by-segment outlook in five-year forecasts

• a survey of the supply base

• suggested resources for further study