Industrial Bearings Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 54.60 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 85.21 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 9.31% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Middle East and Africa |
| Largest Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
|
Industrial Bearings Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The industrial bearings market size is valued at USD 54.6 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 85.21 billion by 2030, advancing at a 9.31% CAGR. Growth reflects rising electrification across transport and factory equipment, accelerating automation adoption, and infrastructure upgrades that demand higher-performance mechanical components. Smart bearings equipped with sensors, miniaturised electronics and wireless connectivity shift maintenance from reactive to predictive, raising asset uptime and reducing unplanned downtime. Manufacturers also pursue lightweight materials and low-friction designs to improve energy efficiency in electric vehicles and industrial robots. Sustained capital expenditure in wind, hydrogen and semiconductor projects further increases demand for specialised, high-load and high-precision bearings that operate in harsher, faster and cleaner environments worldwide.
Key Report Takeaways
- By bearing type, ball bearings led with 42% industrial bearings market share in 2024; magnetic bearings are projected to expand at 18.4% CAGR through 2030.
- By material, alloy steel accounted for 68% of the industrial bearings market size in 2024, while ceramic bearings are forecast to grow at 14.2% CAGR to 2030.
- By end-user industry, the automotive sector held 27% revenue share of the industrial bearings market in 2024; wind energy applications are set to rise at 13.9% CAGR through 2030.
- By application, rotating equipment captured 35% of the industrial bearings market size in 2024; precision and instrumentation is advancing at a 12.7% CAGR to 2030.
- By sales channel, OEMs commanded 71% of the industrial bearings market in 2024, while the aftermarket/MRO segment records the fastest CAGR at 11.4% to 2030.
- By geography, Asia-Pacific dominated with 47% share of the industrial bearings market in 2024; the Middle East & Africa region is on track for a 12.8% CAGR through 2030.
Global Industrial Bearings Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| DRIVER | (~) % IMPACT ON CAGR FORECAST | GEOGRAPHIC RELEVANCE | IMPACT TIMELINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising automotive & EV production rebound | +2.1% | Global, with concentration in APAC and North America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Rapid adoption of predictive-maintenance‐ready smart bearings | +1.8% | North America & EU, expanding to APAC | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Expansion of on-shore wind turbines in APAC & Europe | +1.4% | APAC core, spill-over to Europe | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Re-shoring of industrial equipment supply chains in North America | +1.2% | North America, secondary impact in Mexico | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Niche demand for magnetic & ceramic bearings in hydrogen compressors | +0.7% | Global, early adoption in EU and Japan | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Surge in robotics & cobots requiring low-friction miniature bearings | +0.9% | Global, led by APAC manufacturing hubs | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Rising Automotive & EV Production Rebound
Global light-vehicle output is forecast to edge up to 89.6 million units in 2025, with electric models accounting for 25% of sales. EV traction motors require electrically insulated bearings that mitigate stray-current erosion; DuPont’s Vespel polyimide inserts lower cost versus full ceramic hybrids while tolerating high temperatures. Producers that build dual-capability lines for ICE and EV bearings benefit from steady legacy demand while capturing new e-powertrain volumes.[1]Sara Jensen, “Predictive Maintenance Systems Enable Better Machine Monitoring,” Power & Motion, powermotiontech.com
Rapid Adoption of Predictive-Maintenance-Ready Smart Bearings
Wireless sensor packages integrated into housings now monitor vibration, temperature and lubrication regimes continuously. Schaeffler’s OPTIME ecosystem illustrates the shift, cutting manual inspection and raising safety by limiting physical access to rotating assets. When paired with AI analytics, factories report 30% assembly-time reduction and 15% quality gains from collaborative-robot deployments. The move to data-rich products creates recurring service revenue while raising qualification hurdles for low-cost imitators.
Expansion of On-Shore Wind Turbines
Additional 226 GW of global offshore capacity (ex-China) through 2033 and 18 GW of floating foundations lift demand for multi-row, large-diameter main-shaft bearings. Timken’s USD 70 million capacity build confirms long-term confidence. Harsh maritime conditions spur sealed, lubricated-for-life designs with corrosion-resistant coatings and embedded load sensors that support condition-based maintenance strategies in remote wind farms.
Re-shoring of Industrial Equipment Supply Chains
Commitments exceeding USD 1.4 trillion to US factory projects through 2027 highlight the total-cost-of-ownership logic that now overrides pure labour-arbitrage models. Domestic bearing makers gain volume, yet must solve skilled-labour gaps and forge local material contracts to avoid new bottlenecks created by tight North American steel capacity.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| RESTRAINTS | (~) % IMPACT ON CAGR FORECAST | GEOGRAPHIC RELEVANCE | IMPACT TIMELINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volatile alloy & energy prices squeezing margins | -1.6% | Global, acute impact in Europe and North America | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Automotive ICE-to-EV transition reducing engine-related bearing volumes | -1.3% | Global, concentrated in traditional automotive hubs | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| IP-driven import restrictions on Chinese bearings in U.S. & EU | -0.8% | North America & EU, secondary impact on global trade | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Additive-manufactured bushings replacing small roller bearings in aerospace | -0.4% | Global, early adoption in aerospace sector | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Volatile Alloy & Energy Prices Squeezing Margins
Nickel price spikes and energy-surcharge swings push input-cost volatility that erodes gross margins despite surcharges peaking at four-year lows. Container surcharges on inbound Chinese shipments inflate freight costs, while US steel tariffs limit spot options and lengthen mill lead times. Firms with multi-sourcing contracts and hedged energy supply outperform single-source competitors.[2]Ram Alloys, “May 2025 Nickel & Surcharge Update,” ramalloys.com
Automotive ICE-to-EV Transition Reducing Engine-Related Bearing Volumes
An EV eliminates crankshaft and camshaft bearings, lowering per-vehicle counts. Uncertain EV adoption pace complicates capacity planning; suppliers must maintain ICE lines while investing in high-speed, electrically insulated variants. Net bearing demand for propulsion systems therefore plateaus, moderating overall automotive growth until fleet mix stabilises.
Segment Analysis
By Bearing Type: Ball Bearings Lead Despite Magnetic Innovation
Ball bearings held 42% of the industrial bearings market in 2024 thanks to broad suitability for automotive accessories, industrial motors and consumer appliances. Roller bearings remain preferred in mining and construction machinery where shock loads dominate. Plain bearings serve corrosive marine and chemical duties. Magnetic bearings represent the fastest-growing niche at 18.4% CAGR as oil-free operation eliminates wear and enables higher rotational speeds in hydrogen compressors and eVTOL turbines. NSK’s gas-turbine generator solution for urban air mobility highlights early aerospace traction nsk.com. Upwing Energy’s passive magnetic radial design extends downhole pump life by removing metal-to-metal contact, illustrating cross-industry adoption potential.[3]Upwing Energy, “Passive Magnetic Radial Bearings,” upwingenergy.com
Growing demand for friction-less systems underpins the magnetic segment’s revenue leap, although material cost and sophisticated control-electronics requirements still limit widespread deployment beyond premium applications. As OEMs integrate condition-monitoring sensors, magnetic units can embed current, temperature and vibration data directly into equipment control loops, positioning suppliers that master both mechanics and electronics for higher margins.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Material: Alloy Steel Dominance Faces Ceramic Challenge
Alloy steel comprised 68% of the industrial bearings market in 2024, benefiting from global melt capacity, machinability and fatigue resistance at competitive cost. The industrial bearings market size for ceramic products remains smaller but climbs at 14.2% CAGR through 2030 on the back of EV insulation needs and high-speed spindle requirements. Research shows advanced metal-matrix-composite hydrostatic bearings deliver superior thermal conductivity, supporting ultraprecision machining at reduced weight.
Hybrid steel-ceramic designs blend silicon-nitride rolling elements with hardened-steel races to balance cost and performance, accelerating uptake in wind-turbine generators where electrical corrosion is problematic. Polymer and composite cages gain share in food-grade pumps and pharmaceutical mixers because they endure chemical washdowns and eliminate external lubrication, complying with hygiene codes.
By End-user Industry: Automotive Leadership Amid Energy Sector Surge
The automotive sector captured 27% revenue share of the industrial bearings market in 2024 as vehicle production rebounded post-pandemic. Yet wind energy installations create the fastest-growing opportunity at 13.9% CAGR, demanding main-shaft, gearbox and yaw-control bearings capable of handling multi-megawatt loads. Mining and metals, traditionally cyclical, benefit from battery-metal exploration, while aerospace drives development of lightweight, high-speed units for electric propulsion and environmental-control systems.
Food and beverage processors increasingly specify sealed, maintenance-free bearings to mitigate contamination risk during washdowns, while warehouse-automation suppliers rely on low-noise ball bearings to achieve high conveyor speeds with minimal energy draw.
By Application: Rotating Equipment Leads Precision Growth
Motors, pumps and compressors together accounted for 35% of 2024 revenue, underscoring the ubiquity of rotating machinery in industrial processes. Linear-motion products serve robotics and logistics automation, leveraging crossed-roller rings and ball splines for accurate path control. Precision and instrumentation applications grow at 12.7% CAGR as semiconductor fabs demand nanometre-scale positioning; crossed-roller units with preload stability fulfill lithography stage requirements.
In passenger-car chassis, wheel-hub units evolve to support regenerative-braking loads, prompting design modifications in seal geometry and grease formulation. Meanwhile, engine/transmission bearings in commercial vehicles retain relevance because diesel remains dominant in heavy-duty fleets, sustaining dual-technology production lines.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Sales Channel: OEM Dominance Amid Aftermarket Evolution
OEM purchases represented 71% of industrial bearings market transactions in 2024. Tight engineering collaboration secures long-term supply agreements and forecasts. The aftermarket accelerates at 11.4% CAGR as predictive-maintenance adoption and longer machine lifespans raise replacement cycles. Bearings Inc., operating 340 branches across 40 states, illustrates scale advantages in inventory availability and technical support that capture roughly 25% of US aftermarket revenue. E-commerce portals and vendor-managed inventories further streamline replenishment, shrinking downtime for plant operators.
Geography Analysis
Asia-Pacific retained 47% industrial bearings market share in 2024, propelled by China’s large-scale OEM base and India’s infrastructure build-out. Localization strategies such as SKF’s expanded Ningbo plant and R&D hub shorten lead times and customise designs for regional standards. Japan sustains leadership in miniaturised and high-accuracy bearings needed for electronics assembly and surgical robotics, while South Korea and Taiwan boost demand via semiconductor megafab investments. ASEAN growth accelerates as companies leverage cost-competitive labour and newly inked regional trade pacts.
North America grows above global average on the back of USD 1.4 trillion reshoring commitments and public-sector incentives like the CHIPS and Infrastructure acts. Domestic producers scale up, yet skill shortages lengthen ramp-up schedules; meantime, imports from Mexico fill interim supply gaps. Europe prioritises sustainability and high-efficiency machinery, but industrial order softness in Germany tempers near-term volume. EU policy pushes circular-economy bearings, evidenced by SKF’s laser-reclad circular performance series.
The Middle East & Africa present 12.8% CAGR prospects as Gulf nations diversify into petrochemical, aluminium and renewable projects. Free-zone distributors in UAE serve as regional consolidation hubs, while localisation goals in Saudi Arabia open joint-venture opportunities. South America offers mining-driven pockets of demand, although currency volatility and political risk require flexible pricing and credit terms.
Competitive Landscape
The industrial bearings market is moderately consolidated: the top five suppliers hold roughly 55% collective revenue, giving mid-tier players room to specialise. SKF, NSK, Timken, Schaeffler and NTN invest heavily in sensorised products, cloud-linked diagnostics and advanced coatings. SKF’s circular performance range leverages laser cladding to refurbish rings indefinitely, cutting life-cycle cost for heavy-industry users. Timken’s wind-segment expansion aligns with national clean-power targets, while Schaeffler’s merger with Vitesco introduces power-electronics synergies for smart-bearing platforms.
Strategic themes include near-source manufacturing to hedge trade risk, vertical integration into steel tubing and forging, and additive manufacturing to shorten prototype cycles. Smaller firms excel in defence, medical or space niches where micro-bearings or vacuum-compatible materials are critical. Trade actions such as US antidumping duties on Chinese tapered-roller imports reshape sourcing patterns and encourage domestic ring-forging capacity expansion.
M&A remains active: JTEKT’s showcase of integrated gear bearings reflects the trend to multifunctional components that condense assembly steps, while THK broadens torque-ball-spline offerings to capture demand in collaborative-robot arms. Sustainability drives R&D into bio-lubricants, recycled-steel races and renewable-power-fed plants such as MinebeaMitsumi’s Cambodia facility powered entirely by hydro-electricity.
Industrial Bearings Industry Leaders
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AB SKF
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Schaeffler AG
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NSK Ltd.
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NTN Corporation
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The Timken Company
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- June 2025: JTEKT Corporation announced its ONI BEARING® technology contributed to Simon Yates' overall victory in the Giro d'Italia 2025, demonstrating the performance advantages of ceramic bearing technology in high-performance cycling applications and showcasing the company's expertise in low-torque, high-efficiency bearing solutions.
- May 2025: JTEKT unveiled its integrated gear bearing (JIGB®) technology at the 2025 YOKOHAMA Automotive Technology Exhibition, combining gear and bearing functions into a single unit to address size reduction and torque loss challenges in automotive and industrial machinery applications.
- April 2025: THK Co., Ltd. introduced a new total roller type cross roller bearing that eliminates spacer retainers, allowing increased roller quantities while maintaining existing dimensions for easy replacement in semiconductor manufacturing and robotics applications.
- April 2025: THK expanded its Medium-Torque Ball Spline Model LF product lineup with new models LF80 and LF100, featuring spline shaft diameters of ⌀80 and ⌀100 for applications requiring torque transmission with smooth linear motion.
Global Industrial Bearings Market Report Scope
Bearings are a crucial component of many types of machinery. They exist in various forms and shapes. Industrial bearings are one of the most commonly used machine parts because their rolling motions make almost all movements easier and help reduce friction.
The industrial bearings market is segmented by bearing type (ball bearings, roller bearings), by end-user industry (mining, metal works, material handling, construction, energy, aerospace, automotive, and food and beverage), and by geography. The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD million) for all the above segments.
| Ball Bearings |
| Roller Bearings |
| Plain Bearings |
| Magnetic Bearings |
| Other Bearings |
| Alloy Steel |
| Ceramic |
| Polymer / Composite |
| Hybrid |
| Automotive |
| Aerospace |
| Energy (Wind, Oil and Gas, Hydro) |
| Mining and Metals |
| Construction and Heavy Equipment |
| Food and Beverage |
| Material Handling and Logistics |
| Other Industries |
| Rotating Equipment (Motors, Pumps) |
| Linear Motion Systems |
| Engine, Transmission and Driveline |
| Chassis and Wheel Hubs |
| Precision and Instrumentation |
| OEM |
| Aftermarket / MRO |
| North America | United States |
| Canada | |
| Mexico | |
| Europe | United Kingdom |
| Germany | |
| France | |
| Italy | |
| Rest of Europe | |
| Asia-Pacific | China |
| Japan | |
| India | |
| South Korea | |
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |
| Middle East | Israel |
| Saudi Arabia | |
| United Arab Emirates | |
| Turkey | |
| Rest of Middle East | |
| Africa | South Africa |
| Egypt | |
| Rest of Africa | |
| South America | Brazil |
| Argentina | |
| Rest of South America |
| By Bearing Type | Ball Bearings | |
| Roller Bearings | ||
| Plain Bearings | ||
| Magnetic Bearings | ||
| Other Bearings | ||
| By Material | Alloy Steel | |
| Ceramic | ||
| Polymer / Composite | ||
| Hybrid | ||
| By End-user Industry | Automotive | |
| Aerospace | ||
| Energy (Wind, Oil and Gas, Hydro) | ||
| Mining and Metals | ||
| Construction and Heavy Equipment | ||
| Food and Beverage | ||
| Material Handling and Logistics | ||
| Other Industries | ||
| By Application | Rotating Equipment (Motors, Pumps) | |
| Linear Motion Systems | ||
| Engine, Transmission and Driveline | ||
| Chassis and Wheel Hubs | ||
| Precision and Instrumentation | ||
| By Sales Channel | OEM | |
| Aftermarket / MRO | ||
| By Geography | North America | United States |
| Canada | ||
| Mexico | ||
| Europe | United Kingdom | |
| Germany | ||
| France | ||
| Italy | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| Asia-Pacific | China | |
| Japan | ||
| India | ||
| South Korea | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||
| Middle East | Israel | |
| Saudi Arabia | ||
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| Turkey | ||
| Rest of Middle East | ||
| Africa | South Africa | |
| Egypt | ||
| Rest of Africa | ||
| South America | Brazil | |
| Argentina | ||
| Rest of South America | ||
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current size of the industrial bearings market?
The market is worth USD 54.6 billion in 2025 and is on a 9.31% CAGR trajectory to USD 85.21 billion by 2030.
Which bearing type holds the largest share today?
Ball bearings lead with 42% share of the industrial bearings market, thanks to their versatility across many mechanical systems.
Why are smart bearings gaining popularity?
Integrated sensors provide real-time health data that shifts maintenance from reactive to predictive, cutting downtime and reducing total ownership cost for plant operators.
How does electrification affect bearing demand in automotive applications?
EVs need fewer engine-related bearings but require high-speed, electrically insulated units for traction motors, prompting suppliers to maintain dual portfolios for ICE and EV platforms.
Which geography offers the fastest growth through 2030?
The Middle East & Africa region is projected to expand at 12.8% CAGR as economic diversification drives new industrial projects and infrastructure spending.
What materials are challenging traditional steel bearings?
Ceramic and hybrid steel-ceramic bearings are expanding at 14.2% CAGR due to superior high-speed and electrical insulation properties, particularly in EV and wind-energy applications.
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