10
| PRYSMIAN GROUP
FAct BOOk 2013 >
Market PerForMance
challenges continued in 2013
Energy
as for the diverse segments, the higher
added-value businesses, namely submarine
and hv cables, along with special cables for
oeMs (original equipment manufacturer)
and the offshore oil industry, performed
better. on the other hand, demand for power
distribution cables, mainly in europe, and
building cables was weaker, namely in italy,
germany, france, spain and australia. also
demand for special cables for renewables
(onshore wind power and solar power) was
particularly weak in europe and the us, due
to the end of the stimulus programs.
telecom
the market for optical fibre cables scored a
growth in 2013, entirely thanks to china, india
and other asian countries, which offset a
significant drop in the us, here again because
of the end of the stimulus programs, and
to a lesser extent in europe. Demand for
copper cables declined further, in line with
the market trend that started in 2004, which
benefits the optical cable market.
the slowing of global growth started in the
second half of 2011 and continued into the
first quarter of 2013. however, the second
and third quarters showed some signs
of stabilization, which were confirmed in
the final quarter. the global cable market
mirrored this global economic environment,
even if the entire industry showed very
diversified performance, both at geographic
and business-segment level. the slight
improvement in global cable demand was
fuelled by faster growing economies, namely
the Middle east, asia and, to a lesser
extent, south america. in the us, demand
grew modestly, while in europe the adverse
conditions in building activity, along with the
lack of investment into infrastructures, led to
an overall reduction in demand.
amid slowing growth in major
economies, the cable global
industry suffered reduction in
investment, mainly in europe.
a slightlY resilient
DeManD in faster-growing
countries in the MiDDle
east anD asia proviDeD
soMe relief.
high aDDeD-value proDuction perforMeD
better, while other segMents were extreMelY
DiversifieD.
