Contraction Forecast for the Global Motion Control Market in 2012

Sales of motion control products have decreased in 2012 in China as a result of overcapacity, and the global motion controls market is forecast to decline by 1.9 percent compared to 2011, according to a study recently published by IMS Research. In 2013, the global motion control market is projected to rebound with revenue growth of nearly 5 percent spurred by recovery of the Chinese market but limited by the continued Eurozone recession.

In recent years, the global motion controls market grew strongly with revenues increasing over 20 percent in both 2010 and 2011 to reach an estimated value of $13.1 billion. 2012 presented a very different situation, with the Eurozone recession and softening of the Chinese economy causing motion control products sales to fall well below expectations.

IHS Analyst Michelle Figgs explains, “The biggest surprise in 2012 is the extent of the contraction in the Chinese motion control market, where revenues are forecast to decline an estimated 16.5 to 18.5 percent. Reduced order rates have resulted from overcapacity concerns and conservative buying patterns from machine builders.”

Sales of low-end servo products in China have been most affected, impacting the Chinese and Japanese suppliers who rely heavily on this market. The market for high-end servo products is more stable.

In the rest of Asia, excluding Japan, revenues from sales of motion control products are projected to grow by over 5 percent in 2012. “Growth will be driven by the Indian, South Korean and Taiwanese markets,” comments Figgs. “However, the total Asian market (excluding Japan) is forecast decline by nearly 10 percent because China accounts for the majority of revenues.”

The motion controls markets in the Americas, EMEA and Japan are projected to maintain revenue growth in 2012, though at much lower rates than what was observed in the prior two years. The American market is the fastest growing, with growth projected at 4.2 percent, followed by the EMEA market at 1.6 percent. Due to a struggling semiconductor industry, the Japanese motion control market is projected to grow only 0.5 percent in 2012.