FIN SURVEY

At what percent of capacity did you operate at in 2009?
At 59.3% manufacturers’ 2009 Operating Capacity was the lowest in the 16 years the FIN Survey has charted the figure. The previous low was 64.6% in 2002 and the high was 79.6% for 1996.
For 2010 manufacturers are projecting 71.5%. From 1994 through 2009 operating capacity has averaged 72.6%.

At what percent of capacity do you anticipate operating during 2010?
Manufacturers predict capacity will rise to 71.5%.

How many inventory turnovers did you have in 2009?
Inventory Turnovers dropped to 2.8 for 2009, which was down from 4.6 for the previous year.
The 2.8 is the lowest in the 14 years it has been asked in the FIN Survey. The previous low was 4.4 in 2007. The high was 6.7 in 2000.
Fastener manufacturers’ inventory turnover has now averaged 5.4 over the 14 years the question has been asked in the FIN Survey.

How does your finished goods on hand compare with a year ago?
The Finished Goods Index declined for the third year in a row and this year to a record low of 2.2. The previous bottom was 2.6 at the end of 2001 and the high was 3.5 for 2004. The index has averaged 3.1 over the past 14 years.

How does your current raw material inventory compare with a year ago?
At 2.2 the Raw Material Inventory Index dipped to a new 14-year low. At the end of 2008 it was 2.9 – down from 3.2 two years ago.
A 57.1% majority of FIN Survey respondents reporting “Moderate Decrease” in inventory. The Raw Material Inventory Index has now averaged 3.0 over the 14 years.

Any change in price you paid for raw materials during the past six months?
A total of 48.5% reported steel price hikes of 1% to 10% an 42.4% of manufacturers found steel prices unchanged.
In contrast, 78% of manufacturers reported steel price increases in 2008.

What change do you anticipate in raw material prices during the coming year?
A 62.9% majority of fastener manufacturers anticipate raw material prices hikes in the coming year. Less than a quarter (22.9%) expect prices to remain the same and another 5.7% are predicting moderate decreases. Identical 2.9% of the FIN Survey expect either strong increases or strong decreases. ©2010 GlobalFastenerNews.com