Forging Industry Statistics 2026
Current US forging industry statistics. How big is the industry, end markets, process mix, top states, and 2026 outlook.
Forging produces the strongest, most fatigue-resistant metal parts used in critical applications: aircraft landing gear, automotive crankshafts and connecting rods, oilfield BOP components, military hardware, and energy turbine components.
How big is the US forging industry?
Closed-die (impression-die) forging dominates US volume, producing parts such as crankshafts, gears, axles, hand tools, fasteners, and structural components. Open-die forging handles larger and more specialized parts.
What forging processes dominate the US industry?
US forging splits across several process categories, each suited to different part geometries, volumes, and quality requirements.
What end markets drive forging demand?
| End market | Share |
|---|---|
| Automotive (cars, light trucks) | 29% |
| Heavy-duty truck and equipment | 11% |
| Aerospace (engine, structural) | 16% |
| Energy (turbines, valves, generation) | 11% |
| Oil and gas (downhole, BOP, wellhead) | 9% |
| Industrial machinery and tooling | 8% |
| Military / defense hardware | 6% |
| Hand tools and fasteners | 6% |
| Other | 4% |
Which states have the most forging?
| State | Forging activity |
|---|---|
| Ohio | Largest concentration; automotive, aerospace, oilfield |
| Pennsylvania | Aerospace, oilfield, defense, industrial |
| Michigan | Automotive forgings, heavy truck |
| Indiana | Automotive and industrial |
| Illinois | Automotive, agricultural equipment |
| Wisconsin | Heavy equipment, industrial |
| New York | Aerospace, defense |
| Texas | Oilfield, energy |
| Tennessee | Automotive (transplants), heavy duty |
| Connecticut | Aerospace (jet engines), defense |
The US forging industry has consolidated meaningfully over the past 20 years, with the remaining operations concentrating on higher-value automotive, aerospace, and energy components.
What does this mean for forgers in 2026?
The competitive picture rewards specialists. The handful of US forgers qualified for aerospace engine components or critical defense forgings face limited competition but stringent quality demands. Automotive forgers face commodity pressure on basic crankshaft and connecting rod work but win on lights-out efficiency and supply reliability.
Forgers that publish their material capability, press tonnage range, certifications, prime contractor qualifications, and example part categories win sourcing-team consideration ahead of generalist competitors.
Sources
- 01
- 02Forging (NAICS 332111) US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024