Freedonia Market Research Analyzes Global Market for Pumps

Global demand for fluid handling pumps is forecast to increase at a 4.4 percent annual rate to $47 billion in 2012.  Generally healthy economic conditions will support gains in global pump demand, especially in rapidly developing areas such as China and India, where rising energy consumption and infrastructure development projects will provide key applications for pumps. These and other trends, including market share and company profiles, are presented in World Pumps, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.

The advanced nations of North America, Western Europe and the Asia/Pacific region (i.e., Australia, Japan and New Zealand) comprise mature markets for pumps.  A healthy economic outlook coupled with a pickup in primary energy consumption will support pump demand in the US, while an expanding utilities market for fluid handling pumps will support gains in Japan and Western Europe.

Centrifugal pumps will continue to account for a larger share of the pump market than positive displacement and specialty pumps, due to their varied pressure and load handling capabilities -- including the ability to handle liquids with high solids content -- and relatively low maintenance costs.  Among the major positive displacement pump designs, diaphragm pumps will post the most rapid gains due to their low installed cost, simplicity and versatility along with rising investment by utilities and process manufacturing industries.  Turbine pumps will also see rapid growth, largely supported by an increase in water pumping and sewage applications.

Utilities are projected to see the fastest growth among the major pump markets, supported by increased utility construction, particularly in developing regions, where water and electricity delivery systems are being built.  Although the process manufacturing market is not forecast to see as rapid gains, it is still expected to remain the largest user of pump products due to the wide range of applications and significant fluid handling requirements in many of these industries.  Gains will be spurred by increasing output in most process industries.  The resource extraction market is also projected to see increases due to rising oil production.

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.