Global sales of industrial fasteners are expected to climb 5.2 percent per year to $82.9 billion in 2016, accelerating from the 2006-2011 rate of expansion. The economies of many countries around the world will continue to recover from the global recession of 2009, spurring growth in durable goods output, which largely determines worldwide fastener sales.
Motor vehicle production is expected to expand at a faster rate, stimulated by sales-led output rebounds in a number of developed nations, which will bolster associated fastener sales. In 2011, motor vehicle original equipment manufacturing was the largest market for industrial fasteners, and this market will post the largest gains through 2016 in value terms. Also, accelerations in manufacturing output and fixed investment spending will lead to increased demand for fasteners used in machinery. However, intensifying competition from alternative joining technologies (such as adhesives) will restrain fastener sales increases in some market segments.(…)
