Bearings Market Report 2025

This Bearings market report covers market characteristics, size & growth, segmentation, regional & country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The bearings market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $136.29 billion in 2024 to $148.29 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to industrialization and manufacturing growth, expansion of automotive and transportation sectors, increased in demand for energy and power generation, growth in construction and infrastructure development, demand for bearings in heavy machinery and equipment.

The bearings market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $211.5 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to adoption of bearings in renewable energy applications, demand for bearings in medical and healthcare equipment, expansion of industrial automation and robotics, growing investment in aerospace and aviation technologies, market penetration in emerging economies and developing regions. Major trends in the forecast period include technological advancements in bearing materials and design, focus on sustainability and eco-friendly bearings, 3D printing and additive manufacturing of bearings, increasing investment in research and development, shift towards high-speed and high-temperature bearings.

The surge in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is poised to be a driving force behind the growth of the bearings market. Electric vehicles, propelled by electric motors rather than traditional internal-combustion engines, necessitate specialized bearings due to the high speeds involved in EV and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrains. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported in its annual global electric vehicle outlook for 2022 that the sales of electric cars, including fully electric and plug-in hybrids, doubled in 2021, reaching a record 6.6 million. China alone contributed significantly to this growth, with electric car sales nearly tripling to 3.3 million in 2021, representing about half of the global total. Consequently, the increasing demand for electric vehicles is anticipated to drive the bearings market's growth during the forecast period.

The burgeoning automotive industry is expected to play a pivotal role in propelling the bearings market forward. Embracing design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and sales of motor vehicles, the automotive industry leverages bearings to enhance efficiency, durability, safety, and comfort while mitigating noise, vibration, and maintenance costs. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, global motor vehicle production reached 85.4 million units in 2022, reflecting a notable 5.7% increase from 2021. Moreover, the automobile sector achieved approximately 78 million unit sales in 2022, marking a substantial 10% increase, as reported by Brand Finance plc. Hence, the surging automotive industry acts as a catalyst for the bearings market's growth.

Technological advancement is a significant trend gaining traction in the bearings market. Manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing the development of customized bearings to meet evolving demands as new technologies and digitalization become more prevalent. For example, in November 2023, SKF, a bearing manufacturing company based in Sweden, introduced a spherical roller bearing specifically designed for the food and beverage industry. These bearings provide an extended service life - up to three times longer than traditional open bearings - by minimizing contamination risks and reducing maintenance requirements, all while adhering to industry standards.

Major companies in the bearings market are concentrating on developing innovative products, such as a lineup of bearings, to boost their revenues. This lineup includes bearings with bioplastic cages, which refers to a series of bearing products that utilize biodegradable or bioplastic materials for their cages (also known as retainers). For example, in September 2023, Schaeffler, a Germany-based company that supplies components, systems, and services for the automotive and industrial sectors, launched cylindrical roller bearings. Schaeffler's super precision range features the N10 series of single-row cylindrical roller bearings, along with the NN30 (with ribs on the inner ring) and NNU49 (with ribs on the outer ring) series of double-row cylindrical roller bearings. These bearings are specifically designed for applications that require exceptional precision under high radial loads. A common application is in supporting the main spindle, where they enable bearing arrangements with outstanding precision, high radial rigidity, and excellent load-carrying capacity.

In February 2023, Timken Company, a US-based manufacturer of bearings, acquired American Roller Bearing Company (ARB) for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition allows ARB's end-market mix, customer base, and robust aftermarket position to align perfectly with Timken's business model, thereby enhancing its overall market presence. American Roller Bearing Company (ARB) is a manufacturer of industrial bearings based in the United States.

Major companies operating in the bearings market include Harbin Bearing Manufacturing Co. Ltd., HKT Bearings Limited, Igus Inc., JTEKT Corporation, MinebeaMitsumi Inc., ISB Industries S.r.l., KOYO Corporation of U.S.A., THB Bearings Co. Ltd., Myonic GmbH, SKF Group, LYC Bearing Corporation Limited, NTN Corporation, RKB Europe S.A., NSK Ltd., NBI Bearings Europe S.A., Rexnord Corporation, Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, The Timken Company, C&U Group Company Limited, Luoyang LYC Bearing Co. Ltd., Daido Metal Co. Ltd., THK Co. Ltd., GGB Bearing Technology, RBC Bearings Incorporated.

Bearings are crucial machine components that consist of rolling elements designed to minimize friction, carry loads, and guide the movement and position of various machine parts. They are widely utilized across diverse industries to reduce friction between moving elements and support relative motion.

The main types of bearings are categorized as unmounted and mounted bearings. Unmounted bearings are those with cylindrical elements typically pressed onto a shaft or featuring a tapered bore for mounting on a drive shaft with an adapter sleeve. They come in a variety of types and styles to suit different applications. Bearings are manufactured using materials such as metal, plastic, and ceramics. Bearings find applications across various industries, including automotive, agriculture, electrical, mining and construction, railway and aerospace, automotive aftermarket, and others. These products are distributed through both online and offline distribution channels.

The bearings market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides bearings market statistics, including bearings industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a bearings market share, detailed bearings market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the bearings industry. This bearings market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the bearings market in 2024. Western Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the bearings market analysis report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa.

The countries covered in the bearings market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA.

The bearings market consists of sales of bearing unmounted bearings, such as steel ball bearings, and stainless-steel ball bearings. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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