Freedonia market research report analyzes bearing demand in China

Demand in China for bearings is projected to increase 13.8 percent annually to 125 billion yuan in 2011.  The Chinese bearing market will outpace growth in most other parts of the world, supported by rapid advances in durable goods production, especially motor vehicles and industrial machinery. Increasing electrical and electronic goods production will also provide growth opportunities, although these gains will be less pronounced than over the past decade. These and other trends are presented in Bearings in China, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Trade plays an important role in the China bearings industry, with imports accounting for nearly one-quarter of demand and exports comprising nearly one-quarter of total shipments. Shipments of bearings are expected to expand 14.4 percent annually through 2011, outpacing domestic bearing demand.  Industry output will be stimulated by fast growth in durable goods production, by improved performance capability of high-end bearings and by rising bearing demand in a number of export markets.  Commodity type bearings such as deep groove ball bearings and tapered roller bearings will remain the dominant export products, even though many domestic manufacturers have the capability to produce precision ball and roller bearings. 

The strongest product gains through 2011 will be posted by unmounted roller bearings, stimulated by increased production of motor vehicles and industrial machinery, supporting increases in both OEM and aftermarket demand.  Demand for unmounted plain bearings and mounted bearings will also climb at above-average rates.  Plain bearing demand will benefit from growth in production of motor vehicles and industrial machinery, which represent major plain bearing markets.               

OEM bearing applications will continue to account for well over four-fifths of all bearing demand.  Market conditions will be particularly strong in the automotive, industrial machinery, electrical/electronic and construction equipment, and mining and oilfield machinery manufacturing industries.  MRO bearing demand will be spurred by growth in the stock of bearing-containing equipment in use, with the motor vehicle repair segment forecast to grow the fastest.

The Freedonia Group is a leading international business research company, founded in 1985, that publishes more than 100 industry research studies annually. This industry analysis provides an unbiased outlook and a reliable assessment of an industry and includes product segmentation and demand forecasts, industry trends, demand history, threats and opportunities, competitive strategies, market share determinations and company profiles.