Welding growth is expected to improve in the first quarter (Q1) of 2020 with reacceleration this year, according to the latest Baird/gasworld Q4 2019 Welding and Industrial Gas Survey and Fabrication Channel Checks.
Welding hardgoods trends are expected to bottom in Q4 2019, and improve thereafter, according to the survey. Respondents said they expect hardgoods revenue to increase 2.2% in Q1 2020 – above Q4 2019 sales growth – and 4.3% for the full year 2020. Furthermore, respondents expect sales of gases to increase 3.9% in Q1 2020 and 5.7% for the full year 2020.
Hardgoods sales decreased 0.6%, which was down from 3.1% the previous quarter, as hardgoods volume (revenue minus pricing) declined 3.3% (-0.6% last quarter). Nearly half (43%) of respondents saw demand slow through the quarter.
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