How does it actually look for the EMS industry - what to expect in 2014

The year 2013 followed a similar path to that of 2012 and as we look forward to 2014 and beyond, the EMS industry continues to face a period of uncertainty with limited visibility. OEMs are therefore reassessing their manufacturing strategies, which encourages some to increase their level of outsourcing or even exit manufacturing entirely. This is good news for EMS providers due to increased demand for their services and despite the volatility that is typical of the EMS market, developments in recent months have been positive.

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The uncertainty regarding the extent and timing of the global economic recovery still affects the industry. For 2014, total European revenues for the EMS market are forecasted to show a modest decline. Western Europe is forecasted to grow 0.8%, which is not offset by the 1.4% decline in Central Eastern Europe. Although at a reduced level of production, major EMS providers retain a regional manufacturing presence in Western Europe; the majority of European manufacturing is now located in CEE. As global EMS companies often acquired these facilities through acquisition of major European OEMs, they offer the same capabilities as regional players but can rely on global resources to support growth. Thus, further consolidation is likely during 2014. Some end markets, in particular healthcare/life sciences and commercial aerospace, have shown strong growth recently. Outsourcing of product development, manufacturing and aftermarket services is expected to continue growing in these sectors. The positive trend of the industry is also reflected in sustainable EBITDA margins of above 4%. After the dip in the second quarter of 2013, margins have been increasing, reaching the highest level of the year at 5.12% in Q4. The industry as a whole has experienced changes in the landscape due to acquisitions and exits. One of the largest transactions was the acquisition of CTS Corporation’s EMS segment by Benchmark Electronics, with a transaction value of EUR 55 million. Despite recent positive industry developments, electronics manufacturers still exhibit cautious optimism.