Available for download here 

The 2024 annual report of the European Foundry Federation (EFF) provides a comprehensive overview of the European foundry industry in a particularly challenging economic context. The year 2024 was marked by a widespread slowdown in industrial activity across Europe, affecting both ferrous and non-ferrous foundries. Total foundry production declined significantly due to a drop in demand from key customer sectors – automotive, construction, mechanical engineering, and industrial equipment – combined with high energy costs, increased regulatory pressure, and stronger international competition.

Ferrous foundries were the most affected, while the non-ferrous segment showed greater resilience, although it too experienced a decline. The report also highlights the social and structural consequences of this situation: workforce reductions, site closures, and ongoing investment pressures.

Despite these challenges, the foundry industry remains a strategic link in European industrial value chains, essential for the energy transition, infrastructure, mobility, and industrial sovereignty. Through this directory and statistical analysis, the EFF reaffirms its role as a reference for sector knowledge and its commitment to a competitive, resilient, and sustainable European foundry industry.

ForgeFonderie France fully aligns with this dynamic as an active member of the European federation.

Reports of the Countries
Austria/Croatia/CzechRepublic/Finland/France/Germany/Italy/Poland/Portugal/Slovenia/Spain/Sweden/Switzerland/Türkiye/United Kingdom

Homepage of EFF - The European Foundry Association

The European Foundry Industry Sentiment Index (FISI), published monthly by European Foundry Federation, increased by 1.0 point in November 2025, reaching a level of 95.3 points.
It is worth noting, that there has been a noticeable increase in the production of cast iron castings at the main producers in the EU. Germany and Italy recorded an increase in the value of the FISI index, and France maintained its value from the previous month. Taking into account data from all EFF member countries, the FISI index for cast iron castings increased by 1.6 points, reaching a value of 97.7 in November 2025. The expectations of European foundries in this sector for the next 6 months are also optimistic, reaching a value of 87.0 points compared to 85.0 in October 2025.
On the steel casting market, the situation is slightly different. The value of the indicator in November 2025 reached 75.8, which was a decrease of 0.8 points compared to the value of the previous month. Steel casting production expectations for the next six months remained unchanged: 99.5 points.
The production of non-ferrous metal castings in EFF countries showed a negative trend in November 2025. The value of the index fell by 1.1 points, to 131.5, and the expectations of European non-ferrous metal foundries for the next six months fell by 1.5 points, showing a value of 146.4.
The Business Climate Index (BCI), published by the European Commission, reached -0.66 in November 2025, compared to the previous reading of -0.47 in October 2025.
The Eurozone Manufacturing PMI in November 2025 reached a level of 49.7 which was an decrease by 0.3 point from the value of 50.0 in October 2025.

The FISI – European Foundry Industry Sentiment Indicator – is the earliest available composite indicator providing information on the European foundry industry performance. It is published by EFF every month and is based on survey responses of the European foundry industry. The EFF members are asked to give their assessment of the current business situation in the foundry sector and their expectations for the next six months.
The BCI – Business Climate Indicator – is an indicator published by the European Commission. The BCI evaluates development conditions of the manufacturing sector in the euro area every month and uses five balances of opinion from industry survey: production trends, order books, export order books, stocks and production expectations.
Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) - in the Euro area is an indicator of the economic health of the manufacturing sector. It is based on such indicators as: new orders, inventory levels, production, supplier deliveries and the employment environment.
Please find the chart enclosed or combined with additional information at eff-eu.org/.

Background information on EFF:
EFF is the umbrella organisation of the national European foundry associations. The organisation, founded in 1953, has 22 European member states and works to promote the economical, technical, legal and social interests of the European foundry industry. At the same time, EFF implements activities which aim at developing national foundry industries and co-ordinating their shared international interests. The General Secretariat is situated in Düsseldorf since 1997.
EFF represents 4 400 European foundries. Nearly 260 000 employees are generating a turnover of 39 billion Euro. European foundries are recruiting 20 000 workers and engineers per year. The main customer industries are e.g. the automotive, the general engineering and the building industries as well as the electrical engineering industry. No industrial sector exists without using casted components.
Further information at eff-eu.org/ and LinkedIn EFF.