Welding Consumables Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2033

Welding Consumables Market Size and Companies

The global welding consumables market size was valued at USD 18.52 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach around USD 33.26 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.03% from 2024 to 2033. The expansion of renewable energy projects, such as wind farms and solar power installations, is driving the global welding consumables market growth.

Welding Consumables Market Key Takeaways

• The North America welding consumables market size accounted for USD 6.67 billion in 2023 and is expected to attain around USD 12.14 billion by 2033, poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.17% between 2024 and 2033.
• North America has held a significant revenue share of 36% in 2023.
• Asia Pacific is expected to witness growth at the fastest rate over the projected period.
• By type, the electrodes segment dominated the market in 2023.
• By type, flux segment is expected to gain a significant share of the market over the forecast period.
• By welding technique, the arc welding segment dominated the global market in 2023.
• By welding technique, the resistance wedding segment is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period.

U.S. Welding Consumables Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2033

The U.S. welding consumables market size was calculated at USD 5 billion in 2023 and is projected to attain around USD 9.17 billion by 2033, poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.25% from 2024 to 2033.

North America had a significant share of the welding consumables market in 2023. The region is home to various industries, such as aerospace and automotive, which adhere to strict quality and safety standards. Automated welding systems in North America require consistent and reliable welding consumables. The region also hosts numerous large-scale construction and infrastructure projects, from skyscrapers to energy installations, which heavily depend on welding consumables for structural integrity and durability. North America has been a leader in adopting automation and robotics in manufacturing processes, including welding, which necessitates the use of high-quality welding consumables to ensure compliance and reliability.

India boasts a well-developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, which facilitates the efficient movement of raw materials, finished products, and welding consumables. This streamlining of supply chains helps reduce operational costs. Businesses in the region have easy access to welding consumables, reinforcing their market dominance. Moreover, the presence of numerous educational and research institutions specializing in engineering and metallurgy in India cultivates a skilled workforce with expertise in welding technologies.

• In September 2023, Ador Welding Limited, India's leading manufacturer of welding equipment, consumables, and automation systems, announced its participation in the Schweissen & Schneiden International Trade Fair 2023.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness growth at the fastest rate in the welding consumables market over the projected period. The need for welding supplies has surged due to construction activities driven by the growth of the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, fueled by the region's economic prosperity. The rapid expansion of the automotive industry and the high level of automobile manufacturing have also contributed to the demand for welding consumables in the region. The presence of fast-developing economies such as China, India, Indonesia, and Japan is expected to benefit the region's market growth further.

• In September 2023, The Canadian Welding Bureau and the Automotive Industries Association of Canada partnered to increase welding training opportunities for collision repairers in the country. The program will travel to repair centers across the country to train technicians at their workplaces. This will ensure more facilities in rural and urban areas of the country will be able to offer safe, quality, and timely vehicle repairs, according to CWB and AIA.

Welding Consumables Market Overview

Welding consumables are essential materials used in the welding process to create a strong joint between two metals. These materials include electrodes, filler metals, fluxes, and gases, crucial for successful welding and ensuring its durability. Fluxes, often used in processes like submerged arc welding, generate a slag that shields the weld from impurities and atmospheric contamination. Electrodes are coated metal sticks used in electric arc welding.

The coating burns to produce a shielding gas, protecting the weld from contamination. Gases such as argon, carbon dioxide, and helium are used, especially in gas metal arc and gas tungsten arc welding, to protect the molten weld pool from atmospheric elements that could weaken the weld. Filler metals are added to the weld to ensure it fills and possesses the desired mechanical properties. Filler materials, including welding electrodes, welding wires, and flux-cored wires, are added to the joint during welding to help fuse the base metals. These materials are selected based on the welding process, the type of base metals being joined, and the specific welding requirements.

Welding Consumables Market Growth Factors

• Rapid urbanization in developing economies like China and India is expected to drive the growth of the welding consumables market.
• Rising government spending in the building and construction sector can lead to market expansion.
• Many countries will increase their focus on clean energy, which will fuel the welding consumables market growth soon.
• The expanding oil and gas sector can further propel the welding consumables market growth over the forecast period.
• Launches of more advanced and specialized welding consumables can boost market growth further.

Welding Consumables Market Scope

Welding Consumables Market Dynamics

Driver: Industrialization at a global scale

Rapid industrialization and urbanization in developing economies have led to establishing numerous small and large-scale industries by boosting market growth. The construction sector, especially in countries like India and China, is experiencing robust expansion. The adoption of advanced welding automation technology in fabrication has further fueled the welding consumables market. This industry presents multiple opportunities for profitability and growth for emerging organizations, enabling them to expand and secure a strong position in the global market.

Additionally, the shortage of skilled workers in developing regions is expected to drive the growth of the welding consumables market worldwide. The flourishing construction and automotive industries are the primary drivers of the demand for welding consumables. Moreover, the increasing application of various welding techniques in diverse end-use industries, their use in maintenance and repair operations, and rising investment in energy infrastructure are anticipated to enhance product penetration.

• In September 2023, Vancouver-based Novarc Technologies, which specializes in automated welding equipment using artificial intelligence (AI), raised USD 20 million in all-equity Series A funding.

Restraint: Lack of product adoption in emerging economies

The growth of the global welding consumables market is projected to be constrained over the forecast period due to the limited adoption of innovative welding technologies. Developing nations such as China and India have been slow to embrace modern welding techniques, which has hindered market growth. Additionally, price sensitivity in these countries is a significant factor impeding expansion. The high cost of advanced welding techniques, such as electron beams and laser beams, has led to their limited adoption in emerging economies compared to industrialized nations.

Opportunity: Focus on environmentally friendly consumables

In the welding consumables market, the shift towards environmentally friendly welding consumables is gaining momentum. With stringent environmental regulations worldwide, the demand for low-emission and eco-friendly consumables is increasing, particularly in developed regions such as Europe and Asia Pacific. Companies like ITW Welding and Voestalpine Böhler Welding are focusing on developing green consumables. Brands are prioritizing sustainable products to cater to environmentally conscious consumers and comply with regulations.

Digitalization and IoT integration are also transforming the welding consumables market. Smart welding consumables embedded with sensors and IoT capabilities enable real-time monitoring and data analysis. This trend is particularly gaining traction in industries such as aerospace and automotive, driving global market growth.

• In October 2023, Nasarc launched simplified automated consumables and manual weld innovations. The company has made a name for itself with its flagship INTELLIREAM robotic torch maintenance centers and is now expanding its impact with the development of the Tip Exchange System.

Type Insights

The electrodes segment dominated the welding consumables market in 2023. Stick electrodes are increasingly in demand due to their capacity to enhance welding strength, high corrosion resistance, and tensile strength. Furthermore, numerous industries such as automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, and manufacturing rely heavily on welding processes to fabricate and assemble components. The growth of these industries drives the increased need for electrodes across various welding applications, which can fuel the segment growth shortly.

• In July 2023, Audi began using an AI system for quality control of spot welds. The test of artificial intelligence for series production is underway. Using AI, the carmaker analyses around 1.5 million spot welds on 300 vehicles each shift at its Neckarsulm site.

The flux segment is expected to gain a significant share of the welding consumables market over the forecast period. Flux forms a slag and a gas shield, protecting and shaping the overall weld structure. It also stabilizes the arc and interacts with the weld pool to produce clean, high-quality metal. Common materials in flux include limestone, silica, dolomite, lime, borax, and fluorite. This composition makes flux suitable for various applications, such as post-weld heat treatment, pressure vessels, offshore drilling platform construction, and exploration platforms. The increasing use of flux in these applications is anticipated to drive segment expansion.

Welding Technique Insights

The arc welding segment dominated the global welding consumables market in 2023. Arc welding includes various subtypes, each designed for specific applications and materials. This diversity enables its use across many industries, such as construction, manufacturing, aerospace, and automotive, making it a preferred choice for many welding needs. Its simplicity and adaptability further reinforce its dominance. Moreover, the method’s versatility across sectors like automotive, construction, and shipbuilding solidifies its status as the preferred choice. Continuous advancements in consumable materials and equipment have strengthened its market position, establishing it as the go-to method for numerous welding applications worldwide.

• In November 2023, ESAB launched a next-generation welding platform for heavy industrial welding.ESAB’s Warrior Edge 500 CX system makes it possible for both new and experienced welders to achieve excellent welding results without a complex set-up process.

The resistance wedding segment is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period. Resistance welding (RW) involves joining two metals using pressure and electrical current for a specific duration through the area to be joined. The primary advantage of resistance welding is that it does not require additional materials such as shielding gases, fluxes, or filler rods. The objective of effective resistance welding is to generate heat close to the weld interface, where the weld is desired. Generally, higher resistance results in higher heat, provided the resistance welding power supply can generate sufficient energy to overcome the resistance.

Welding Consumables Market Recent Developments

• In February 2023, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, which is considered one of the prominent manufacturers of welding equipment and consumable products, has recently unveiled its Copilot collaborative welding system. This system will enable welders to achieve better quality of welding and optimize the use of consumables enabling the users to meet augmented demand.
• In February 2022, Miller Electric Mfg., which offers arc welding equipment under its brand name Miller, has recently announced that the company is venturing into a collaboration with NCCER (National Center for Construction Education & Research). The collaboration efforts will provide NCCER welding levels 1 and 2 to integrate its augmented reality welding system.
• In May 2022, Lincoln Electric, engaged in developing, manufacturing, and supplying welding equipment and consumables across diverse geographies, has increased diversity in its existing product portfolio by offering hyperfill solutions into its Flux-Cored wire applications.

Welding Consumables Market Companies

• voestalpine AG
• Colfax Corporation
• The Lincoln Electric Company
• Air Liquide
• Hyundai Welding Co., Ltd.
• Obara Corporation
• Panasonic Corporation
• Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Denyo Co., Ltd.
• Fronius International GmbH
• Tianjin Bridge Welding Materials Co., Ltd.
• Kemppi Oy
• Arcon Welding Equipment

Segments Covered in the Report

By Type

• Electrodes
• Flux
• Shielding Gas
• Filler Metals
• Others

By Welding Technique

• Arc Welding
• Resistance Welding
• Oxy-Fuel Welding
• Laser-Beam Welding
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa