Index Management Services (UK) has published a report comparing the American market for bearings to the European market, estimating the economic recovery period for both.

While the overall economies of North America and South America still lack significant strength, a comeback is becoming gradually apparent.

2009 was an especially difficult year for the North American bearing market, with ball and roller bearing sales falling an estimated 17% from 2008 -- primarily due to the "unprecedented" decline in North American motor vehicle manufacturing. A pickup in economic and vehicle demand in Brazil helped to offset some of that decline for the Americas as a whole.

Moving through 2010, the IMS report estimates ball and roller bearing sales will rise by at least 5% in the Americas, and be back over 2008 levels by 2012 (5251R9N7).

Recovery in demand for bearings across Europe is expected to trail the Americas, if only because Europe entered the economic downturn months later. Demand from the European automotive and machinery equipment sectors is forecast to be relatively flat through 2010 and grow a small percentage into 2011.

Because of that lag entering the economic downturn, the demand for bearings in Europe is expected to run an extra year before recovering to pre-downturn levels -- taking until at least 2013 vs. 2012 in the Americas.