Demand for ball, roller and plain bearings is forecast to mount 6.4% annually through 2012 to $66.2 billion globally. An increase in average bearing life is observed limiting the aftermarket sales gains thus reflecting the use of improved product designs, better quality materials and better lubricants. However, growing demand for more expensive, better performing bearings will provide a counterbalance, supported in part by high energy prices, which are making highly efficient bearings a more attractive investment.

Product demand in developing parts of Asia / Pacific, Eastern Europe, Africa / Middle East and Latin America will outpace sales in the US, Western Europe and Japan through 2012. Market advances in developing areas will be fueled by healthy economic growth, ongoing industrialization efforts and rising personal income levels, bolstering manufacturing output and fixed investment expenditures. In addition, higher living standards will help stimulate demand for automobiles and other bearing-containing durable goods, boosting both OEM and MRO bearing sales. China, India and Russia are expected to record some of the strongest gains, followed by lower volume markets like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Romania.

Bearing demand in the US, Western Europe and Japan will rise as well. Advances will be spurred by largely favorable economic climates and higher per capita income, resulting in increased manufacturing activity and consumer spending for durable goods. Although representing mature markets, these areas will remain the most intensive users of bearing products because of the advanced industrial and technological nature of their economies, as well as the large numbers of bearing-containing equipment in use -- supporting substantial aftermarket bearing demand.

Unmounted roller bearings will register the strongest market gains through 2012, driven by increased output of products such as construction and mining machinery, conveyors, machine tools and wind turbines. Demand for mounted and combined ball/roller bearings is also expected to climb at an above-average rate, fueled by world economic and manufacturing sector growth, bolstering both OEM and MRO product demand. Sales of un mounted ball and plain bearings will expand at a somewhat slower pace, although suppliers will benefit from increased output of items like electrical and electronic equipment, motor vehicles and aerospace equipment.

Bearings used in non-automotive, non-industrial machinery settings will post the most robust sales gains through 2012, benefiting from the healthy outlook for a number of products included here, such as aerospace equipment, electronic devices and medical instruments. Growth in industrial machinery bearing demand is also expected to be healthy, stimulated by increases in global manufacturing activity, helping to spur associated fixed investment expenditures. Demand for bearings used in motor vehicle applications will rise at a slower rate, constrained y a shift in the product mix toward smaller cars and the greater longevity of newer bearing products.

Bharatbook.com has included a new report titled "World Bearings Forecasts for 2012 & 2017" (http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=8031) which presents historical demand data (1997, 2002, 2007) and forecasts for 2012 and 2017 by product, market, world region and for 29 countries. The study also considers market environment factors, evaluates market share and profiles leading competitors.

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