Total World Trade by Region

If we examine the volume of regional trade in the year to September 2011 with the prior year period, then we get these conclusions. Insulated cable exports from the Americas (North and South) rose by a healthy 8.6% year-on-year, while Eastern and Central Europe saw a 7.6% increase and Chinese and Hong Kong exports went up by 6.5% year-on-year. All other regions witnessed much slower rates of growth, consistent with lower rates of underlying market growth. Western Europe recorded a 3.1% rise, following by Developing Asia with 2.8% and North East Asia (Japan, South Korea and, Taiwan). So the slowdown in Western Europe and North East Asia is irrefutable (and backed up by local cable shipment data) while the picture elsewhere is generally better, though clearly mixed.

Outperforming End Use Markets

Wire and cable products related to power infrastructure, renewable projects, telecom infrastructure, the automotive sector, railway (except China) / mass transit, aerospace, electric motors and oil / gas / mining continue to be performing well and profitably. But those driven by the construction sector (either directly or indirectly through distributors and wholesalers) continue to struggle with no imminent change in fortunes likely in the foreseeable future.