Sensors – Industry Study with Forecasts for 2016 & 2021

US sales to climb 6.1% annually through 2016

US sales of sensors are forecast to climb at a 6.1 percent annual rate through 2016 to $14.9 billion, showing significant improvement over market performance from 2006 to 2011. Demand will primarily be fueled by a rebound in motor vehicle production and government mandates requiring that all new light vehicles be equipped with electronic stability control and tire pressure monitoring systems. Growth in machinery and process manufacturers’ output will also support market gains. Further development of, and new applications for, technologies such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), optoelectronics, and photoelectronics will also help bolster sensor sales. However, the maturity of many sensor markets and improved fabrication techniques that have led to increased sensing abilities at lower costs will temper value gains. In addition, the manufacture of many sensor-laden products, such as consumer electronic devices, has moved overseas, which will further limit market advances.

Process variable sensors to remain largest category

Process variable sensors will remain the largest product category in 2016, approaching $4 billion, while chemical property sensors and proximity and positioning sensors will post the fastest growth, averaging 9.7 percent and 7.9 percent per year, respectively. Chemical sensor sales will be boosted by technological advances that have resulted in smaller, more precise sensors at lower costs, allowing them to be used for additional applications in existing markets, as well as in a number of new markets.

Study Scope

This study analyzes the $11.1 billion US sensors industry. It presents historical demand data for the years 2001, 2006 and 2011, and forecasts for 2016 and 2021 by sensor type (e.g., process variable, physical property, proximity and positioning, chemical property, electrical property, imaging) and market (e.g., industrial, motor vehicles, military/aerospace, electronic, medical, consumer electrical and electronic, information technology).

The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 40 industry competitors, including Honeywell, Sensata Technologies, and Northrop Grumman.

Source: Report Sensors 2016 – Freedonia Industry Market Research