How’s Business? 2013 Connector Industry Wrap-Up

Industry sales are up +2.2% through October 2013 (10 months). Sales improved modestly in each quarter, increasing +1.2%, +1.8%, and +3.6%, respectively.

We project full-year 2013 growth of +2.7% to a value of $48,889 million. This requires that the industry achieve +4.2% growth in 4Q’13 to $12,471 year-over-year. There are signs that the fourth quarter will achieve higher growth than the previous three quarters. Specifically, October orders were up +7.2%, which is the best the industry has recorded in more than a year.

Sales performance by region is noted in the following table. Japan’s sales are poor, declining -15.8%. China’s growth has been lethargic, growing only +2.5% through the first three quarters. Sales demand is improving in China, however, and we believe the region will have a very good 4Q’13. Japan’s rate of declining sales is improving but growth is still not happening. 

Our full-year 2013 forecast anticipates modest growth in all regions, with the exception of Japan. 

The 3Q’13 sales growth, along with October results, is encouraging and suggests that connector demand is strengthening. Fourth quarter sales should continue the upward trend. The following are observations supporting fourth quarter growth:

• Europe’s performance continues to improve, as does its economy. Spain had growth in the third quarter for the first time in two years, an indication that more of Southern Europe may be pulling out of recession. Its connector industry growth will exceed our July forecast for the full year.
• Projections from TE Connectivity, Amphenol, and Molex are for low single-digit growth in Q4. Only modest year-over-year industry growth is needed to attain our forecast of +2.7% sales growth for the full year 2013.
• China’s economy expanded in the third quarter and its connector industry performance is improving.
• North America will lose some economic growth from the government shutdown, but it will not significantly impact connector industry growth.
• The fourth quarter is historically the best quarter of the year.
• October 2013 orders were up 7.2%, and the book-to-bill ratio was 1.01. This provides a good backlog of orders for November and December shipments.

2014 Forecast

We believe 2013 will achieve sales growth of +6.7% year-over-year and, at long last, break through the $50 billion sales barrier. We forecast world connector sales of $52,999 million.

The following tables show our 2014 forecast by region and market sector.