North American Manufacturers Lose Market Share; China Nearly Doubles

North American Manufacturers Lose Market Share; China Nearly Doubles

John Wolz

Just three years ago distributors bought a 51.3% majority of fasteners from North American manufacturers. But distributors participating in the End of 2003 FIN Survey report buying an average of 37.9% of fasteners from North American manufacturers.

Combined Asian sources now total a majority of the supply to distributors. China rose from 8.6% during 2000 to supplying 16.2% in 2003. Taiwan showed a slight gain to 29.6% � up one percentage point from three years ago.

The Taiwan and China percentages, plus 2,1% from Japan and 3.0% from other Asian countries, add up to a 50.9% majority of products sold by domestic distributors. Western Europe, South America and “other continents” gained in percentages, but remain at single-digit levels. Eastern Europe rose from half of one percent to almost single-digit sales at 0.9%.
Japan and other Asian suppliers lost market share.

\ �2004 FastenerNews.com