Press Release Summary = Official statistics indicate that the apparent UK market for bearings, parts for bearings (excluding balls, needles and rollers for bearings) and bearing housings incorporating bearings expanded by 4.5% in 2005, to £401.8m.
Press Release Body = Bearings Market Report 2007
Executive Summary
Official statistics indicate that the apparent UK market for bearings, parts for bearings (excluding balls, needles and rollers for bearings) and bearing housings incorporating bearings expanded by 4.5% in 2005, to £401.8m. Of this total, ball bearings made up the largest single sector. It is estimated that the total apparent UK market fell to £385.2m in 2006.
UK manufacturers\' sales of bearings, parts for bearings (excluding balls, needles and rollers) and bearings in housings totalled £396.5m in 2005. Estimates for 2006 anticipate the market having slipped back by 1.5% to £390.5m as higher gains in previous years were compensated and as growth in demand slowed to moderate historical levels.
These figures relate to rolling bearings, which consist of an inner and an outer raceway, with a cage of rolling elements between the two. The market is generally subdivided into ball bearings, tapered roller bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, needle roller bearings and spherical roller bearings. Linear-motion bearings and bearing housings incorporating bearings are other important subsectors. Plain bearings, which usually require external lubrication, are not covered by this report.
The bearing market is generally considered to be part of the power-transmission market, which includes automotive transmission systems. In 2004, bearings and bearing housings accounted for 42.9% of the £1.07bn apparent non-automotive power-transmission market.
The market is dominated by the larger bearing manufacturers, which are subsidiaries of overseas firms, principally with Swedish, Japanese, German, French and US ownership. Imports from these countries form the majority of supplies brought into the market from overseas, although Chinese and other Asian sources are growing in importance. The major car manufacturers are thought to be the principal purchasers of bearings exported from the UK.
The apparent UK market for bearings is expected to show modest growth over the next 5 years, rising to £500.3m by 2011. The strength of sterling will continue to inhibit exports, but the expansion of transport, aerospace and construction demand for bearings will improve the market\'s prospects.
2025
