Heat Treating Global Market Report 2026

Heat treatment is a crucial process involving the heating of metals to enhance their properties, strengthen the material, and create alloys. Heat-treated components play a vital role in the functionality of diverse applications, including automobiles, aircraft, spacecraft, computers, and heavy equipment.

The primary materials subjected to heat treatment are steel, cast iron, and various other material types. In steel, heat treatment improves properties like machining and formability while restoring the grain size in constructions. Different types of heat-treating equipment are employed, such as electrically heated furnaces, fuel-fired furnaces, and other specialized equipment. Various heat-treating processes, including carburizing, nitriding, hardening, tempering, normalizing, annealing, and more, contribute to the desired material properties. End-users benefiting from heat treatment encompass industries like automotive, aerospace, machinery, construction, metals, and others.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on imported heat treatment equipment and steel materials have affected the market by increasing operational costs and causing supply chain disruptions. Automotive, aerospace, and machinery segments are most impacted, particularly in north america, europe, and asia-pacific regions. The tariffs have encouraged investment in domestic manufacturing facilities and promoted development of energy-efficient and innovative heat treatment solutions, providing some long-term market benefits.

The heat treating market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides heat treating market statistics, including heat treating industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a heat treating market share, detailed heat treating market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the heat treating industry. This heat treating market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The heat treating market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $110.68 billion in 2025 to $116.61 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in automotive manufacturing, expansion of aerospace and defense industries, rising demand for machinery and heavy equipment, increasing industrialization and infrastructure projects, adoption of heat treatment for metals and alloys.

The heat treating market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $142.38 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing use of advanced and automated heat treatment equipment, rising demand for high-performance components in automotive and aerospace, focus on sustainable and energy-efficient processes, growth in construction and industrial sectors, increasing application of heat treatment in specialty metals and alloys. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of advanced heat treatment technologies, rising demand for steel and alloy heat treatment, growing usage of heat-treated components in automotive and aerospace, increasing focus on precision and customized heat treatment processes, rising adoption of energy-efficient and eco-friendly heat treatment solutions.

The expanding automotive sector is expected to drive the growth of the heat-treating market in the coming years. Heat treatment is widely used in the automotive industry to harden aluminium body parts and strengthen engine and drivetrain components. As automobile manufacturing increases, there is anticipated to be a higher demand for heat treatment services. For example, in 2023, the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA), a France-based international association of automobile manufacturers, reported significant growth in the global automotive industry, with total vehicle production reaching 93,546,599 units, a substantial increase from 85,016,728 units produced in 2022. As a result, the growing demand from end-user industries is expected to drive the heat-treating market.

Major companies in the heat-treating market are at the forefront of launching optimized technologies to offer sustainable and efficient alternatives for heat treatment processes. For instance, in June 2023, Metso's introduction of RotarEkiln technology, an electrically powered, indirectly heated rotary kiln designed for sustainable heat treatment of advanced materials. This technology represents a green alternative to traditional fuel-powered kilns, featuring modular heating sections for precise temperature control and simplified maintenance. Metso's RotarEkiln technology exemplifies the industry's commitment to innovation, providing a customizable and environmentally friendly solution for advanced materials heat treatment.

In January 2024, Bodycote, a UK-based company specializing in metal heat treating, acquired Lake City Heat Treating Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is intended to enhance Bodycote's service portfolio, expand its geographic presence, and strengthen its competitive position in the thermal processing market. Lake City Heat Treating Inc. is a U.S.-based firm that primarily provides heat treating services, a manufacturing process used to modify the physical and sometimes chemical properties of materials, typically metals.

Major companies operating in the heat treating market report are Bluewater Thermal Solutions, American Metal Treating Inc., East-Lind Heat Treat Inc., Pacific Metallurgical Inc., Nabertherm GmbH, Unitherm Engineers Limited, Peters' Heat Treating Inc., Shanghai University Heat-treatment Co. Ltd., Thermax Limited, Uddeholm Canada, Ajax TOCCO International Ltd., Solar Atmospheres, Metcor Inc., Specialty Steel Treating, NITREX.COM, Industrial Steel Treating Company Inc., Foresight Finishing LLC, Queen City Steel Treating Co., S.M. Engineering & Heat Treating Inc., General Metal Heat Treating Inc., Scarrott Metallurgical Company, Circle City Heat Treating Inc., Metlab Corporation, Thermotech Refractory Contractors, Superior Heat Treat LLC, Bodycote PLC, Metal Heat Co. Ltd., ONEX Corp., Paulo Thermal Processing, Advanced Heat Treat Corp.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the heat-treating market share in 2025. The regions covered in the heat treating market are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the heat treating market are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The heat treatment market consists of revenues earned by entities by provide heat treatment products and services that are used to alter a material's physical characteristics. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The heat treatment market also includes the sales of furnaces, burners, hardening equipment, and cryostats. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Heat Treating Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses heat treating market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for heat treating ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The heat treating market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Material: Steel; Cast Iron; Other Material Types
• 2) By Equipment: Electrically Heated Furnace; Fuel-Fired Furnace; Other Equipment
• 3) By Process: Carburizing; Nitriding; Hardening; Tempering; Normalizing; Annealing; Other Processes
• 4) By End-Users: Automotive; Aerospace; Machinery; Construction; Metals; Other End-Users
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Steel: Carbon Steel; Alloy Steel; Stainless Steel; Tool Steel
• 2) By Cast Iron: Gray Cast Iron; Ductile Cast Iron; White Cast Iron; Malleable Cast Iron
• 3) By Other Material Types: Aluminum; Titanium; Copper Alloys; Nickel Alloys
• Companies Mentioned: Bluewater Thermal Solutions; American Metal Treating Inc.; East-Lind Heat Treat Inc.; Pacific Metallurgical Inc.; Nabertherm GmbH; Unitherm Engineers Limited; Peters' Heat Treating Inc.; Shanghai University Heat-treatment Co. Ltd.; Thermax Limited; Uddeholm Canada; Ajax TOCCO International Ltd.; Solar Atmospheres; Metcor Inc.; Specialty Steel Treating; NITREX.COM; Industrial Steel Treating Company Inc.; Foresight Finishing LLC; Queen City Steel Treating Co.; S.M. Engineering & Heat Treating Inc.; General Metal Heat Treating Inc.; Scarrott Metallurgical Company; Circle City Heat Treating Inc.; Metlab Corporation; Thermotech Refractory Contractors; Superior Heat Treat LLC; Bodycote PLC; Metal Heat Co. Ltd.; ONEX Corp.; Paulo Thermal Processing; Advanced Heat Treat Corp.
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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