Industry Trends Data Shows Strong Rebound Has Begun

As many of you may know, the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) is the leading source of hydraulic and pneumatic industry data. Members get and use our data in a variety of ways to run their businesses. Part of our market information services is providing overall industry trends. Here is the latest update:

Hydraulic and Pneumatic Shipments

Graph #1 Hydraulic and Pneumatic Shipments Industry Trends

This graph of raw index data is generated by the total dollar volume reported to NFPA by CSS participants and compared to the average monthly dollar volume in 2018. For example, the March 2021 total dollar volume for pneumatic shipments is 111.4% of the average monthly dollar volume in 2018. (Base Year 2018 = 100)

Pneumatic, Mobile and Industrial Hydraulic Orders Index

Graph #2 Pneumatic, Mobile, and Industrial Orders Indexes Industry Trends

Each point on this graph represents the most recent 12 months of orders compared to the previous 12 months of orders. Each point can be read as a percentage. For example, 79.5 (the March 2021 level of the industrial hydraulic series) indicates that industrial hydraulic orders received from April 2020 to March 2021 were 79.5% of the orders received from April 2019 to March 2020. (Base Year 2018 = 100)

Total Hydraulic and Pneumatic Shipments

Graph #3 Total Hydraulic and Pneumatic Shipments

This graph of 12-month moving averages shows that in March 2021, shipments increased across the board. (Base Year 2018 = 100)

Shipments – Cumulative year-to-date % change

Shipments – Cumulative year‐to ‐date % change Industry Trends

*Preliminary data subject to revision.
The table above is expressed in terms of cumulative percent changes. These changes refer to the percent difference between the relevant cumulative total for 2021 and the total for the same months in 2020. For example, March 2021 pneumatic shipments figure of 8.0 means that for the calendar year through March 2021, pneumatic shipments increased 8.0% compared to the same time-period in 2020.

Fluid Power Industry Growth Trend

The latest data published by the National Fluid Power Association shows industry shipments of fluid power products for March 2021 increased 15.2% when compared to March 2020, and increased 28.5% when compared to last month.  Mobile hydraulic, industrial hydraulic and pneumatic shipments all increased in March 2021 when compared to March 2020, as well as in comparison to last month. These charts are drawn from data collected from more than 80 manufacturers of fluid power products in NFPA’s Confidential Shipment Statistics (CSS) program. Much more information is available to NFPA members, which allows them to better understand trends and anticipate change in their market and the customer markets they serve.

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