Video Game Market

The video game industry has continued to evolve with each passing cycle because of its unique characteristics of being seasonal as well as cyclical. As a result of these characteristics, companies like Sony Corp, Nintendo and Microsoft launch new consoles every few years that are followed by a slew of new games from the software publishers.

With the introduction of innovative products comes the benefit as the video game industry has grown by 50% in the period 2004 to 2006. The growth in this market is driven by the increased hours of video game consumption that are taking time away from other forms of entertainment, including radio, recorded music, daily newspapers, consumer magazines, and consumer books.

Also, survey suggests that nearly half of the U.S. population have played video games. But besides growth in the developed economies, gaming console market is also seeing huge adoption in the emerging economies especially BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries.

With increasing adoption, preferred channels for purchasing video games have changed over the years – consumers are more attracted towards mass merchants and consumer electronic stores for their purchases now.

The competitive landscape of the video game industry has also changed with Nintendo and Microsoft threatening the dominance of Sony. In the next generation video game market, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii are major improvements over their respective prior video game console offerings, and for the first time in nearly a decade create respectable alternatives to Sony’s video game consoles.

As a fallout of the changing scenario, it is likely that by the year 2008, video game console market will be evenly divided between the Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony consoles, with Nintendo taking the lead beyond 2008.

Source: Market Research Company

Online Segment Driving Worldwide Movie Rental Market

With changing consumer preferences, demand is shifting towards digital movie rental market. Also there is an ongoing trend of DVD rental kiosk and it is expected that ten percent of total US rental market would shift to Kiosks over the next three years. This automated technology provides customers with 24-hour access yet charges cheaper rates than stores. Broadband plays an important role in driving demand of online movie rental industry. Improved technologies and advent of digital distribution system are also driving demand by offering more convenience to the customers.

The movie rental market has declined in 2007 as compared to 2006, reason behind this downfall is inverse market conditions which is affecting consumer spending rate. In US spending on rental VHS and DVD is declining for the last five years.

This report covers all the aspects of movie rental industry from its innovation to development, competition and market opportunities. It gives an overview of worldwide movie rental market and a thorough analysis of US movie rental market. It starts from an overview of US media & entertainment industry and discusses home entertainment market. The report gives a complete description of the segments of movie rental market and also its sub segments. Apart from US it focuses on Europe, UK, and Australian movie rental market. The report highlights major industry trends and issues prevailing in the market. The report also profiles the major competitors and their market shares.

Source: Market Research Company

Global Banknote Industry: An Analysis

Banknote industry is an integral part of an economy and the monetary policies of each country. As proved by the EURO, a currency can drive economic stability and economic and monetary integration within a region. Trying to replicate the monetary union of the Eurozone, ASEAN plus three countries, China, Japan and Korea are working towards bringing a common currency for East Asia.

The banknote industry and especially the production of banknotes used to be a very secretive and protected system. But with the gradual opening up of the industry and private players contributing in the production system, the industry has slightly moved away from its secretive stance. However, the participation of private paper mills is still very small as compared to the state owned mills. The banks are now outsourcing a large part of the distribution and recycling of cash to the private companies, cash-in-transit or professional cash handlers or sub-contractors. In fact, in 2012 the Euro production system is going to open up for the private players completely, providing a level playing field.

Apart from the competition within the private mills for contracts from the central banks, the industry itself is facing a tough competition from the payment cards industry. The growth payment cards are registering is attractive, although its country or region specific, but people are shifting towards non-cash based payments and in most countries this is even being encouraged.

The cash distribution system as well as banknote production system is complex. The base of banknotes is cotton and the process is quite lengthy and complex. The cotton used for banknotes is also different from the cotton fiber used by the textile industry. Then there are various security features which are embedded on the substrate used for banknotes.

Source: Market Research Company

Solar Photovoltaic Cell Market Report

High oil and gas prices and improving regulatory support for solar power are driving solar photovoltaic (PV) cell market. Other drivers include increasing popularity of “green” energy, rising electricity costs and emergence of more efficient solar PV technologies.

Currently, the major challenge for the solar PV market is adequate procurement of solar grade silicon. The planned capacity increase in polysilicon production in the coming years is expected to drive solar PV cells output capacity higher. Therefore, the outlook of solar PV market in the next few years largely depends on availability and pricing of polysilicon.

Germany, Spain, Japan and the US dominate the worldwide solar PV market with more than 85% of cumulative installed PV capacity. A key reason for high growth in these countries is the active role adopted by their governments in providing subsidies to the solar industry. However, growth in Japan has been hindered due to scaling down of subsidies program.

Crystalline Silicon technology has uptill now dominated the solar PV market, with about ninety percent market share. Thin-film technology is a less efficient, lower cost, alternative to crystalline silicon. Thin-films are usually used for large PV plants, in large commercial or industrial buildings.

There are fewer companies involved as we move up in the solar PV value chain. Germany’s Q-Cells was the world’s largest producer of solar cells in 2007, followed by Japan’s Sharp Corporation, Chinese manufacturer Suntech Power and Japan’s Kyocera Corporation. The top ten companies have a market share of more than fifty percent of the worldwide solar PV cell market.

Source: Market Research Company

US Cabinet Market Report: 2008 Edition

The cabinet market is highly fragmented and residential buildings account for the largest share of the cabinet demand. Consumers are becoming more conscious regarding healthy environment and adoption of “going green” concept. Style is a key trend prevalent in cabinet market. Canada is the major market in terms of US cabinet imports. The primary demand drivers for the cabinet market are growing residential construction and home improvement activity, principally in North America and Europe.

Growth in the industry is primarily being driven by remodeling expenditures and to a minor extent by new residential construction. An aging baby boomer population is another major contributor to market growth. The sheer size of this generation and their unprecedented wealth continue to influence all areas of the economy. The three major players (Masco, Fortune Brands and American Woodmark) share roughly half of the US market.

This report analysis the US cabinet market and highlights market environment and cabinet segments. Growth drivers and key issues impacting the market have been analyzed to build up a scenario of outlook of the market. The report discusses major players’ market share and profiles them with a focus on their business strategies.

US Smoothies Market: Trends and Opportunities

The US smoothie market has grown rapidly over the last five years, driven mostly by the consumption habits of Americans who skip meals and often depend on snack foods as a substitute. Since smoothies offer healthier treat than other snack options, tastes good and also offer convenience and portability, the market is expected to grow at a rate of 10-13% in the next five years.

The smoothie market has lower barriers to entry because of lower capital investment. But in order to grow, what is required is the quality of the product and brand awareness. Jamba Juice, the leader in the US smoothie market has clearly taken a lead over its competitors in terms of market share and most important, brand awareness.

As a result of tremendous growth, many food chains, quick service restaurants and beverage companies are entering the smoothie segment by opening new stores. The growing interest of large beverage companies in this segment is mostly driven by the declining sales of soft drinks in the United States. There is a possibility of consolidation of the smoothie market, particularly resulting from the inevitable fallout of smoothie brands which will happen as the market starts to settle.

Wireless Tower Industry: Strong Growth Opportunities

The wireless tower market has exhibited sustained growth, good operating leverage, and strong cash flow. The tower companies generate a majority of their turnover from leasing space on their towers. With most of the operating expenses of a tower being fixed, additional customers result in high cash flow for the tower companies.

Growth of tower industry is being driven by increase in wireless subscriptions. Subscriber demand of increased network coverage, improved voice quality, and non-voice services, has led to increase in revenues of wireless tower companies. The industry has been going through a phase of consolidation. Strategic acquisitions have given tower companies the capability to reduce operating costs and also offer a wide range of sites to the wireless carriers.

The three major tower companies are American Tower, Crown Castle, and SBA Communications. Many wireless companies also own and operate their towers. In this industry, the focus of competition is more towards acquiring customers for new site locations.

The report analyzes the wireless tower market. Apart from providing a competitive landscape of the market, the report also profiles the major tower companies, with a discussion of their key business strategies. It also analyzes the major market drivers and issues prevalent in the tower market.

Source: Market Research Company

Tractor Market in India: An Analysis

Tractor industry plays an important part as agriculture sector has a major contribution to India’s GDP. Tractors are part of agricultural machinery industry. Tractors came to India through imports and later on were indigenously manufactured with the help of foreign collaborations. The manufacturing process started in 1961-62. Indian tractor industry is relatively young but now has become the largest market worldwide.

There are currently 14 players in the industry. Mahindra & Mahindra is the leading player in the industry. Monsoon season is a key driver for sales of tractors. A series of good or bad monsoon can affect the sales. In recent years the industry has registered a good growth in sales, both domestic as well as exports. This is also partly because of the initiative of the government to boost up agriculture and agricultural machinery industry.

The tractor penetration level in India is very low as compared to the world standards. Also the penetration levels are also not uniform throughout the country. While the northern region is now almost saturated in terms of new tractor sales, the southern region is still under penetrated. The medium horse power category tractors, 31-40 HP, are the most popular in the country and fastest growing segment.

This report gives an insight into the tractor industry in India, discussing its inception and growth. It analyzes the current scenario of tractors in India, industry size, domestic and exports trends and India’s share in global market. Lastly, it discusses the players in the industry and profiles the top players.

Source: Market Research Company

Global Filtration Market: Vehicles to Drive Growth

Filters are traditionally being used in various industry segments including automotive, agriculture, construction, industrial, diesel locomotive, medical, pharmaceutical and food and beverage processing industries among others. Filters are now increasingly finding their applications in niche industry segments including biotechnology, vaccines, plasma, cell therapy and critical care.

Vehicles are the largest segment for filtration products and it is likely to continue as a major driver of growth for the overall filtration market. This is because of the changes in emission laws that are placing ever increasing demands on filtration systems. Vehicle filters find their applications in on-road vehicles like trucks, buses, automobiles and off-road vehicles like construction equipment, mining equipment and agricultural equipment. On-road and off-road vehicles use filters to clean air for intake and emissions and to clean liquids, such as oil and hydraulic, coolant, and transmission fluids.

Globally, the filtration market has grown at a slow pace, but in the subsequent years, after 2007, the effect of legislation on tightening air emission standards is expected to show results for the filtration market. For reducing harmful emissions, use of effective filtration technologies is involved and so it could drive the revenues of filtration companies like Donaldson and Clarcor.

Further, continued growth is expected for the engine filtration segment also because of the fact that the demand for after market heavy-duty filtration products remains strong due in part to high levels of freight transport to move goods worldwide.

Source: Market Research Company

Robotic Surgery – Large Potential Market

Robotic surgery is set to become the new standard in surgical procedures worldwide. The rapidly increasing adoption of surgical robots is due to the benefits provided to both surgeons and patients. Robotic surgery has significantly simplified many of the complex procedures. For patients, the benefits include less pain, less blood loss and quick recovery times. The US market is leading in robotic applications, with the global market a few years behind in the adoption cycle.

Da Vinci surgical system is the most widely accepted robotic surgery system worldwide. The five major applications of da Vinci procedures include prostatectomy, hysterectomy, mitral valve repair, coronary revascularization and gastric bypass. Out of these, prostatectomy is the most widely performed da Vinci procedure while hysterectomy is the fastest growing da Vinci procedure.

Technological advancements in robotic surgery include telerobotic procedures, where surgeon’s commands are relayed to a surgical robot thousand of miles away. Experiments are also going on to evaluate the benefits of robotic surgery on air and space flights.

Source: Market Research Company