WORLD CONNECTOR STATISTICS
REGIONS - PRODUCTS – MARKET SECTORS
1999 – 2008 & 2013 FORECAST

Bishop and Associates has just released the new 2009 edition of the Connector Market Handbook. This comprehensive seven-chapter, 221-page report analyzes all aspects of the world electronic connector market. This report provides detailed connector statistics by equipment sector and product category for North America, Europe, Japan, China, Asia Pacific, and the ROW region. Included is a complete chapter on worldwide connector industry results by region, equipment sector and product category. Data is provided for the years 1999-2008, and projections for 2013 (including five-year CAGRs). This report also includes 2007/2008 results by country for the European and Asia Pacific regions, as well as a 2013 forecast.

OVERVIEW OF THE WORLD ELECTRONIC CONNECTOR MARKET

The world connector industry increased sales +2.7 percent in 2008, achieving six consecutive years of growth (2003 = +11.2 percent, 2004 = +17.9 percent, 2005 = +6.2 percent, 2006 = +12.6 percent 2007 = +7.2 and 2008 = +2.7 percent).

World Connector Market by Region

The following chart shows the percent change in world connector sales by year beginning in 1981. There have been only four (4) sales declines in the past twenty-eight (28) years, two of the declines occurring in the in 2001 and 2002 downturn.

World Connector Market Year-Over-Year Growth 1981 - 2007

Europe

Europe is the largest connector region of the world, with connector sales of $11.935 billion in 2008. Europe recorded a year-to year increase of +4.6 percent. In the past twenty-eight years, the European region has displayed six years of sales decline, 1985, 1989, 1992, 1993, 2001, and 2002.  Over the same twenty-eight year period, the European region has attained a compound average growth rate of +5.8 percent.

European Market Year-to-Year Growth 1981-2008

North America

North America is the second largest connector region of the world, with connector sales of $9.432 billion in 2008. North America recorded a sales decline of -4.7 percent during 2008. Over the past twenty-eight years (1981-2008), the North American region has had just nine years of sales decline, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2008. Over the same twenty-eight year period, the North American region has achieved a compound average growth rate of +3.2 percent.

North American Market Year-to-Year Growth 1981-2008

REGIONAL SUMMARY

You can see in the table below, the 2001 and 2002 recession is still having a downward impact on the connector industry’s past 10-year, and past 20-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Previously, the connector industry had a historical CAGR of +7.0%. However, over the past five-year period (2003-2008), the connector industry has achieved excellent growth, with a CAGR of +9.2 percent.

Regional Growth Rates

END-USE EQUIPMENT SECTORS

Computers and peripherals was the largest market for electronic connector products, with 2008 shipments of $9.394 billion.  Connectors utilized in the computers and peripherals sector account for 21.4 percent of all connectors manufactured.  Ranking second is automotive connectors, with 20.3 percent of the total market.

The following table provides 2007/2008 sales results by end-use equipment sector.

World Sales Results – End-Use Market Sectors

World Connector Market - Top 5 Equipment Sectors - 2008