SPRING 2012

42 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
By John Wolz
editor@globalfastenernews.com
SURVEY OF THE FASTENER INDUSTRY
2011 YEAR END
2011 A Good Year for
Fastener Industry
Increased sales and profits
were on the menu of fastener
companies in 2011 — and strong
helpings of both were served, the
End of 2011 FIN Survey found.
Nearly eight in ten businesses —
78% — reported "moderate" to
"strong" sales growth during the
year, representing the second
straight year of sales growth by at
least three out of four fastener
companies. An even 50% of
fastener firms said sales grew at a
"moderate" pace, while 28% saw
"strong" sales growth.
An additional 12% of companies
participating in the survey said sales
stagnated in 2011, while 5%
reported a moderate decrease in
annual revenues.
Profits were up as well,
with 73% of manufacturers,
distributors, importers and platers
surveyed by FIN recording profit
gains. Just over 49% of companies
saw "moderate" profit increases,
while 24% achieved "strong" profit
growth. About two in ten fastener
businesses said profit was
unchanged from the previous year,
with an additional 2% showing
"moderate" bottom-line declines.
And fastener companies are
overwhelmingly optimistic about
their prospects in 2012.
The FIN Survey found nearly
eight out of ten businesses — 79%
— forecast further sales growth in
the coming months. Just under
60% expect "moderate" sales
increases, while 21% anticipate
"strong" revenue growth. Only 1%
estimated a sales decline.
Profits are expected to
improve as well, with 82% of
survey participants predicting
profit gains in 2012, including
61% who foresee a "moderate"
profit rise and 21% who anticipate
a "strong" increase in profit.
In 2011 the FIN Sales Index
jumped to 4.3 from 3.8 the
previous year. At 4.2 the FIN Profit
Index continued its rebound from
2009's record low of 2.14.
For the coming months the
sales index forecasts growth to
4.5 and the profit index indicates
an increase to 4.2.
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