The report below gives a good overview of the Fall 2021 M&A activity in the Transport, Logistics and Supply Chain Industry Sector. The global retail logistics market size was valued at $205.4 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.8% during the forecast period 2021 to 2028, as per research published by Grand View Research, Inc. The e-commerce retail logistics segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% from 2021 to 2028 as per the same research. The increase in global trade activities, particularly in emerging economies, is driving up the demand for retail logistics. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the digital transformation of the supply chain companies to adopt automation, AI, and the IoT. However, the capacity constraints of the logistics industry, which has been prevalent from the start of the pandemic, are expected to persist over the next few months. In addition to that, the inflationary rate environment is expected to continue in the U.S. trucking industry for the rest of 2021, due to high freight volumes coupled with suppressed truckload capacity, as per research published by truckload carrier U.S. Xpress Enterprises. Truckload capacity will continue to be impacted by driver shortages as drivers have been kept off the road by additional stimulus checks and unemployment benefits.

Posted by Peter Heydenrych.

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The report below gives a good overview of the Fall 2021 M&A activity in the Semiconductors & Advanced Materials Industry Sector. During the pandemic, the semiconductor industry had remarkable success and has become highly prevalent in finding solutions for a variety of economic and public health issues, but it still faces enormous hurdles. One of the most significant issues is the worldwide scarcity of semiconductors. There was an unexpected high demand for semiconductors, which were required during the pandemic to enable remote healthcare, work-at-home, and virtual learning. The scarcity is still affecting a variety of downstream industries, including automobiles, consumer electronics, household appliances, industrial robots, and a variety of other essential items. The semiconductor industry is expected to expand 17.3 % in 2021, compared to 10.8% in 2020, according to a report by International Data Corporation (“IDC”). By the middle of 2022, the industry is anticipated to be normalized and balanced, with the possibility of overcapacity in 2023. In July 2021, global semiconductor sales remained strong, with high demand in all key regional markets and semiconductor product categories. According to data published by The Semiconductor Industry Association (“SIA”), worldwide semiconductor industry sales were $45.4 billion in July 2021, up 29.0 % from $35.2 billion in July 2020. Europe had the largest year-over-year sales growth of 38% in 2021, followed by Asia Pacific (30.9 %), China (28.9%), the Americas (26.8%), and Japan (20.9%).

Posted by Gunther Hofmann.

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The report below gives a good overview of the Fall 2021 M&A activity in the Food and Beverage Industry Sector. The global functional foods and beverage market was valued at $281.14 billion in 2021, as per research published by Statista. The market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of about 9.5 % between the forecast period 2021 and 2028. Asian consumers are set to double their spending on food to more than $8 trillion by 2030 according to a joint report by PwC, Rabobank and Temasek. The demand would be driven by health-conscious and digitally savvy consumers. However, higher commodity prices and continuous supply chain disruptions are forcing food and beverage brands, manufacturers, and retailers to develop new strategies to safeguard profits while retaining market share. Food-related commodity prices are expected to rise in 2021 because of several factors, including higher demand from China, tighter supplies due to harsh weather occurrences, and anticipation that the Biden administration will prioritize biofuels investment. Retailers and food manufacturers are also facing the challenge of rising freight and transportation costs. Going forward, the increasing demand for organic foods and beverages, rising penetration of organized retail, continued technology development, and rising population is anticipated to propel future growth.

Posted by Jurgen van Dijk.

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The report below gives a good overview of the Fall 2021 M&A activity in the Business Services Industry Sector. The global business services industry faced uncertain outlook in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized on the need to digitize business models. Organizations in the business services industry should focus on improving the agility along with cost-efficiency. Better performance measurement capabilities would aid in achieving these objectives. In July, services industry activity in the United States reached a record high, boosted by a shift in spending from goods to services, although businesses continued to face higher pricing due to supply chain limitations. As nearly half of the population in the United States has been completely vaccinated against COVID-19, demand is shifting back to services, allowing individuals to travel, visit restaurants, attend casinos, and sporting events, among other activities that were curtailed early in the pandemic. Enterprises are intensifying their digitalization initiatives and focusing on hybrid work.

Posted by Brad Purifoy.

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The report below gives a good overview of the Fall 2021 M&A activity in the Industrials Industry Sector. The pandemic caused chaos in the global economy, including the global manufacturing sector. The COVID-19 crisis prompted the first worldwide manufacturing slump since the financial crisis of 2008, albeit not as severe. However, compared to the previous slump, the global manufacturing sector appears to be rebounding more swiftly. According to a UNIDO report, worldwide manufacturing production increased by 18.2% annually in Q2 2021, compared to a decline of 11.4% in Q2 2020. Companies using medium to high technology expanded at a rapid pace, registering a y-o-y growth rate of 20%, while low-technology businesses subsequently expanded at a slower rate of 13%. According to market intelligence firm Interact Analysis, the global manufacturing value is anticipated to reach $41.9 trillion in 2021, up from $39.3 trillion in 2020. Apart from the pandemic, the greatest concern to the industry is the risk to the supply chain, and firms will continue to analyze their cost of inputs to ensure they rely on cost-competitive suppliers. According to KPMG, industrial firms are increasingly focusing on suppliers and evaluating domestic supply sources and may consider the long-term trend of “buy where you make” as an important element of their company’s operating model.

Posted by Patrick Powell.

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The report below gives a good overview of the Fall 2021 M&A activity in the Aerospace, Defense and Government Industry Sector. Global Aerospace and Defense industry revenue is projected to recover in 2021, although the recovery will be uneven across the commercial aerospace and defense sector. The commercial airplanes and services are showing signs of recovery after the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, while the global defense, space and government services markets have remained stable. COVID-19 vaccine availability and distribution will continue to be crucial determinants in passenger air travel’s near-term recovery. The recovery is seen faster in countries where the governments have lifted restrictions related to air travel. The passenger traffic growth is expected to increase by an average of 4% per year, as per research published by Commercial Market Outlook. Furthermore, projected demand for dedicated freighters, including new and converted models, has increased. Global defense spending has increased dramatically, primarily due to the resumption of great power competition among the world’s biggest geopolitical powers, as well as R&D-driven technological advancement. Geopolitical and security challenges will continue to drive long-term demand in this sector.

Posted by Jim Gerberman.

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The report below gives a good overview of the Fall 2021 M&A activity in the Technology Industry Sector. The technology, media, and telecommunications industry is rapidly evolving, due to increased investor interest. The sector experienced increased investments driven by initial public offerings of special-purpose acquisition companies, and venture capital funding during the initial period of 2021. This industry has significant potential for growth due to large capital inflows. The rapid pace of technological change, due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, is driving companies to continuously innovate to transform their business and gain a competitive advantage. However, the technology, media, and telecommunications industry’s capital, strategic, and operational decisions are being influenced by geopolitical uncertainty, ESG/climate crisis and awareness, and inclusion & diversity realizations. Currently, technology demand is rising due to increased global IT spending and swifter hardware sales recovery. The adoption of 5G networking and devices is increasing, with the prospect of more efficient data processing, lower network costs, and increased network density on the horizon.

Posted by Dan Vermeire.

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The report below gives a good overview of the Fall 2021 M&A activity in the Engineering and Construction Industry Sector. In 2020, the worldwide construction market declined from USD 11.21 trillion in 2019 to USD 10.74 trillion as per research published by ResearchAndMarkets. The industry consistently faces macroeconomic and financial hurdles in design, schedule, budget changes, supply delays, equipment failure, labor conflicts, accidents, and natural calamities. And the impact of COVID-19 further increased the difficulties for the industry. However, the sector has shown evidence of recovery in the year 2021, and the market is expected to reach USD 13.57 trillion in 2024 at an implied CAGR of 6%. The heavy and civil engineering industry would be the fastest-growing construction category, due to low-cost labor and raw materials. The APAC region is projected to provide the most revenue to the industry compared to its European and North American competitors. Construction companies must seize opportunities in the business ecosystem to construct a better future, particularly in the context of current construction stimulus packages in the United States and Europe.

Posted by Dean C. Durbin, PE, MBA.

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The report below gives a good overview of the Fall 2021 M&A activity in the Energy Industry Sector. The global energy system is at a point of inflection. On the one hand, the gradual recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic is driving the energy requirements, while on the other hand environmental considerations are pushing for energy transition. Achieving the climate targets articulated in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement would require a massive reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. However, this does not seem to be the case. While 2020 saw roughly a 6% decrease in global CO2 emissions, the IEA projects that 2021 will see a rebound to 2019 levels or above. According to the new market research by The Business Research Company, the fossil fuel electricity market is expected to grow from $799.94 in billion 2020 to $833.71 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2%. Many studies estimate that fossil fuel consumption in 2040 will be similar to, and in some cases substantially higher than, 2019 levels. The demand for natural gas has witnessed an exponential rise in the recent decades, replacing coal in the power sector and becoming more widely used in buildings and industry around the world. There has been a global progress on the front of electricity generation from renewable sources of energy. Based on current policy settings and economic trends, electricity generation from renewables including hydropower, wind and solar PV is expected to grow strongly around the world over the next two years – by 8% in 2021 and by more than 6% in 2022.

Posted by Roy Graham.

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The report below gives a good overview of the Fall 2021 M&A activity in the Metal Fabrication Industry Sector. The global sheet metal fabrication services market size was valued at $15.81 billion in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.46% to reach $16.31 billion by 2021, as per research published by Research and Markets. The increasing investments in major end users of automotive, aerospace, and military industries, will propel the growth in the global sheet metal fabrication services market. The demand for sheet metal fabrication is being fueled by OEM’s increasing focus on improving operational efficiency and lean production. Innovative prefabrication techniques adopted by sheet metal fabrication service providers is expected to drive future growth. Adopting cobots in metal fabrication processes could help to mitigate the growing labor shortage. It will also improve operating efficiency and product quality. Steel and aluminum are the most used metals for sheet metal manufacturing. The global steel demand in 2021 is expected to increase by 4.1%, as per report published by OECD. The industry structure, government support measures, and the balance struck by individual governments between virus containment and promoting economic activity, will play a major role in the recovery in the steel demand. Strong steel demand coupled with growth in the automotive and other sectors such as construction, equipment, and transportation, is expected to drive growth in the metal fabrication industry.

Posted by Jim Zipursky.

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