Metallurgy industry
in Catalonia

The metallurgy industry is one of Catalonia’s most important sectors, contributing significantly to its economic growth and job creation. The industry comprises 4,766 companies, with a turnover of €12,262.2 M and 64,400 people employed. 

A young, growing, and flexible sector

Out of the 4,766 companies in the metallurgy sector in Catalonia, 80.2% are less than ten years old, and 86.4% are SMEs. These companies account for 20% of the total number of companies in Spain in these sectors. The province of Barcelona concentrates most of the companies in the industry, with 82.0% of the total turnover, followed by Girona, Tarragona, and Lleida. 

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In 2021, employment in the metallurgy and metal products sector increased by 1.1% and 0.8% in Catalonia, respectively. This accounts for 18% of total employment in the sector in Spain. Furthermore, the metallurgy and metal products sectors combined account for 9.2% of industrial GVA in Catalonia. It is among the top 5 sectors in Catalonia, along with chemicals and plastics, food and beverages, automotive, and life sciences. Turnover in Catalonia and Spain stands at €12,262 M and €69,841 M, respectively, making Catalonia the driving force of the metal sector, accounting for 17.6% of turnover in Spain. Moreover, Catalonia has a higher annual growth rate than Spain in metal production.

Emerging industries driving innovation and growth in Catalonia 

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is used to manufacture volumetric objects sequentially. It is used to produce parts with complex geometries faster and more flexibly. At the same time, it also generates less waste than subtractive manufacturing and can work with different types of metal. Another significant emerging sector in Catalonia is advanced metal materials, used as structural materials, for high-temperature applications to produce energy, and as coatings to modify properties related to wear and corrosion resistance. 

And as regards sustainability, the replacement of coal with hydrogen in iron oxide reduction processes to produce steel is helping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and decarbonize this industry. Furthermore, incorporating renewable clean energies to replace the burning of fossil fuels is also helping decarbonize the steel and aluminum industry, making the process more environmentally friendly.