Connector Industry – In a Sweet Spot

There are three major areas that will create turmoil in the connector industry and cause a serious drop in profitability:

1. Decline in connector demand
2. Falling connector prices
3. Rising raw material costs

Right now the industry is in a “sweet spot.” Business conditions are such that we are on the positive side of all three profit killers.

Right now the industry is in a “sweet spot.” Business conditions are such that we are on the positive side of all three profit killers.

Connector Demand

The first two months of 2014 are very encouraging and suggest that the full year is going to result in high single-digit growth. The following table provides year-to-date change in sales through February 2014.

World sales are up +7.1% versus our full-year forecast of +6.7%. Double-digit growth in China is especially encouraging, as is growth in Japan, which suffered through a -16.0% decline in sales in 2013.

Semiconductor performance offers further evidence the world demand for electronics is improving (remember, semis and connectors move in the same direction). Year-to-date through February, semiconductor sales are up +10.0% worldwide.

The following table presents year-to-date, through February, sales performance of semis and connectors.

The following graph plots month-over-month change in sales for semis and connectors. You will note that sales for semis turned positive in May 2013 and in July 2013 for connectors (as a rule semiconductor performance leads connectors by four to eight weeks). Semis have now recorded 10 consecutive months of growth and connectors eight months.

You will also note that recent sales results are producing higher levels of growth for both components. So the trend appears to be up for both semiconductors and connectors.

Pricing

Connector Companies increased prices in 2010, which was justified to offset the rising cost of raw materials. Overall prices of connectors increased an average of 3-5% in 2010. Since then, prices have been stable with no discernible price declines.

The following graph shows a very stable connector price environment. This trend has been consistent since the latter part of 2010.

Note, a price index above 3.000 indicates that connector prices are rising. We are now in our fourth year of rising or stable connector prices. Four years of no price erosion is a record for the connector space.

Raw Material Costs

Beginning in late 2010, raw material costs peaked and then began a slow decline. All of the major raw materials used to manufacturer connectors have declined from their highs. This includes the big three major raw materials that make a connector: precious metals, copper, and plastics.

What will the balance of 2014 bring?

The connector industry is in a “sweet spot.”

• Rising demand
• Stable prices
• Lower raw material costs
   

2014 will be a good year of growth, and profits will be excellent.