Metal products: Value chain, from upstream to the customer
Fabricators making castings, forgings, tubes, fasteners and cans from steel and metals
Value chain, from upstream to the customer
Criticality to the chain: 5 · Chokepoint 4 · Critical 3 · Important 2 · Supporting 1 · Commodity service Stage 1 Metal supplyMake flat, long and special steels from iron ore or scrap and sell coils, bars, plates and billets to fabricators, service centres and OEMs.1
Why important: Supply is large and global but China made about 52% of 2025 steel (calculated), and switching grades or mills needs requalification. Technologies Blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace Electric arc and induction furnaces Direct reduced iron Continuous casting and hot rolling Cold rolling and coating lines Depends on Commodities Fe Iron oreMn ManganeseCaO LimeZn Zinc Chemicals O2 OxygenAr ArgonHCl Hydrochloric acid Energy Kc Coking coalHI Energy-intensive industryCDQ Steel plant energy recoveryHVAC AC transmission Industries Waste and recyclingTransport and logisticsExamples: Tata Steel, JSW Steel, ArcelorMittal, Nucor, China BaowuTurn primary and recycled non-ferrous metal into sheet, foil, extrusions, rod and wire for packaging, construction, cables and vehicles.
Why important: Several large suppliers per metal, but alloy approvals and can-sheet or auto-sheet qualification take months. Technologies Hot and cold rolling mills Aluminium extrusion presses Copper rod casting and drawing Remelting of scrap Depends on Commodities Al AluminiumCu CopperZn ZincMg Magnesium Chemicals NaOH Caustic soda Energy Gas Natural gasHI Energy-intensive industry Industries Waste and recyclingExamples: Hindalco, Novelis, Vedanta, AurubisSupply ferrochrome, ferromanganese, nickel, molybdenum and similar additions that give stainless and alloy steels their properties.
Why critical: Ore supply sits in a few countries (chrome in South Africa, nickel in Indonesia, molybdenum in China and the Americas), with no substitute for stainless grades. Technologies Submerged arc furnaces Ore beneficiation Electrolytic metal refining Depends on Commodities Cr ChromiumNi NickelMn ManganeseMo MolybdenumV VanadiumSi Silicon Energy HVAC AC transmissionTc Thermal coalExamples: Glencore, Eramet, Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys, TsingshanPour molten metal into moulds to make engine blocks, pump bodies, valves, pipe fittings and machine bases for OEMs.2
Why important: India alone has about 4,500 foundries, but pattern tooling and customer approval mean a move takes three to six months. Technologies Green-sand and no-bake moulding Investment casting High-pressure aluminium die casting Induction melting Casting simulation Depends on Commodities St SteelAl AluminiumQz Silica sandKao Kaolin & claysMg Magnesium Chemicals Phe Phenol and acetonePU Polyurethanes (MDI, TDI, polyols) Energy EH Electric heatingKc Coking coalDist Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors Industries Machinery and equipmentWaste and recyclingExamples: Georg Fischer, Nemak, Kirloskar Ferrous Industries, PTC IndustriesHammer or press heated billets into crankshafts, axles, flanges and gears that need high strength, mainly for vehicle and industrial OEMs.3
Why important: Several capable suppliers exist, but die-making and part approval for safety-critical parts take months. Technologies Closed-die and open-die forging Ring rolling Induction billet heating CNC finish machining Heat treatment Depends on Commodities St SteelNi NickelTi Titanium Chemicals Lub Lubricant additivesN2 Nitrogen gas Energy EH Electric heatingGas Natural gas Industries Machinery and equipmentExamples: Bharat Forge, Ramkrishna Forgings, CIE AutomotiveBuy coil and plate from mills, then slit, cut, bend and hold stock for small fabricators who cannot buy direct.
Why supporting: Many competing centres in each region; a fabricator can change supplier within weeks. Technologies Slitting and cut-to-length lines Laser and plasma cutting Inventory management systems Depends on Commodities St SteelAl Aluminium Chemicals O2 Oxygen Energy Dist Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectorsICV Combustion road vehicles Industries Transport and logisticsExamples: Reliance Steel & Aluminum, Ryerson, Klöckner & Co, Tata Steel (downstream service centres)Make steel tubes, hollow sections, beams, towers and pre-engineered buildings for construction and infrastructure.
Why supporting: A competitive field of large and small firms; buyers can resource within weeks. Technologies ERW and direct-forming tube mills CNC beam lines Robotic welding Hot-dip galvanising Depends on Commodities St SteelZn Zinc Chemicals Ar ArgonCO2 Carbon dioxidePnt Paints and coatings Energy Dist Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors Industries Machinery and equipmentExamples: APL Apollo Tubes, Zekelman Industries, Pennar IndustriesProduce bolts, rivets, springs, wire products and machined components sold in high volumes to OEMs and distributors.
Why important: Many suppliers, but safety-critical fasteners need traceable approvals, so switching takes a few months. Technologies Cold heading Thread rolling Wire drawing CNC turning and milling Statistical process control Depends on Commodities St SteelZn ZincNi NickelCu Copper Chemicals Lub Lubricant additivesHCl Hydrochloric acid Energy Mot Electric motors and drivesDist Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors Industries Machinery and equipmentExamples: Sundram Fasteners, Howmet Aerospace (fastening systems), Stanley Engineered Fastening, LISIForm aluminium and tinplate into beverage cans, food cans, aerosols and drums for food, drink and chemical companies.
Why important: Three or four global groups make most beverage cans, but each region usually has more than one supplier. Technologies Drawn and wall-ironed cans Two-piece and three-piece can lines Internal lacquers High-speed printing Depends on Commodities Al AluminiumSt SteelSn Tin Chemicals Pnt Paints and coatings Energy Gas Natural gasDist Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectorsExamples: Ball Corporation, Crown Holdings, Ardagh Metal Packaging, Hindustan Tin WorksCoat, plate or heat-treat parts on a toll basis so that they resist corrosion or reach the required hardness.
Why supporting: Many local job shops compete, though environmental permits limit new plating capacity. Technologies Hot-dip galvanising Electroplating Powder coating Carburising and vacuum heat treatment Depends on Commodities Zn ZincNi NickelCr Chromium Chemicals HCl Hydrochloric acidH2SO4 Sulphuric acidPnt Paints and coatingsN2 Nitrogen gas Energy Gas Natural gasEH Electric heating Industries Waste and recyclingExamples: Bodycote, AZZ, Valmont (coatings)Build the CNC machines, presses, lasers and welding systems that every shop in the chain buys and services.
Why critical: High-end machines and CNC controls come from a few firms in Japan, Germany and Taiwan, with lead times of six months or more. Technologies CNC controls and servo drives Fibre lasers Servo presses Arc and laser welding Industrial robots Depends on Commodities St SteelREE Rare earthsW TungstenCo Cobalt Energy Mot Electric motors and drives Industries Machinery and equipmentElectrical equipmentSemiconductorsExamples: DMG Mori, Trumpf, Amada, Lincoln Electric, Ace MicromaticTest material and weld quality and certify products and plants to national and customer standards.
Why supporting: Several accredited labs and certifiers in each market, and buyers can use any approved body. Technologies Non-destructive testing Spectrometry ISO and IATF audits BIS product certification Depends on Chemicals Rgt Reagents and high-purity lab chemicals Energy Bld Energy in buildings Industries Professional servicesExamples: Bureau Veritas, TÜV SÜD, Bureau of Indian Standards, IntertekStock fasteners, tubes, sheet, tools and fittings from many makers and sell them in small lots to maintenance teams, builders and workshops, online or over the counter.
Why commodity service: Thousands of distributors and local hardware dealers stock interchangeable catalogue items, so buyers can switch at once. Technologies Vendor-managed inventory and bin replenishment B2B e-commerce catalogues Regional warehouses Trade credit Depends on Energy Bld Energy in buildingsICV Combustion road vehicles Industries Transport and logisticsSoftware and IT servicesFinance: banking, insurance, marketsExamples: Würth, Fastenal, Bossard, Moglix