Industry Today: The World of Manufacturing
READER SERVICES
ADVERTISING
at the forefront
of business publishing...
 Date:2/21/2007 Aerospace Industries Association |
| News Release Civil Aircraft Sales Fuel Record Year for Aerospace and Defense Industry A surging civil aircraft market boosted the aerospace industry in 2006, lifting total sales to another record level, Aerospace Industries Association reported in its recent state-of-the-industry analysis. Total sales increased $14 billion to $184.4 billion, a record for the third year in a row. That represents a jump of 8.4 percent over 2005's final sales total. The aerospace industry remains one of the cornerstones of the American economy. Record-setting sales last year were fueled in no small part by a boom in sales of commercial airliners, and we expect more of the same looking forward to 2007, AIA President and CEO John Douglass told U.S. Industry Today. Last year, Douglass said in a recent press release, aerospace logged a remarkable $52 billion positive trade balance, a vivid reminder of the industry's strength in the international marketplace. The increasing trade surplus in the industry shows its importance on the global stage and positive impact on the U.S. economy, Douglass said. It would be hard to overstate aerospace's positive contributions to our national economy, as evidenced by these very strong indicators. The industry also added about 23,000 new jobs, reaching a total of 635,000. Foreign sales of aerospace products jumped sharply for a second consecutive year in 2006, increasing $15 billion over last year's $67 billion. The increase was dominated by civil aircraft exports, particularly commercial transports. General aviation aircraft exports set a new record by increasing to $3.2 billion. Military aircraft exports experienced a healthy increase to $3.4 billion. AIA forecasts U.S. aerospace and defense industry sales to grow 6 percent, or $11 billion, to a record $195.4 billion in 2007. The increase would likely be driven primarily by increased delivery of civil aircraft, engines, and related parts and components. Defense and space sector purchases are expected to increase slightly. Looking beyond 2007, the current backlog of commercial aircraft orders means the civil aircraft sector will continue on an upward trajectory. A modest rise for the space sector is also expected, particularly as demand for commercial satellites continues to increase. For more information visit www.aia-aerospace.org. |
THE LATEST
Manufacturing M&A: Doing Deals in a Reset World
Many manufacturing companies are cautiously shifting gears from retrenchment to expansion as business activity revives and credit markets improve. After nearly two years of focusing on cash and liquidity preservation and cost reduction, they are now looking to build capacity and explore growth opportunities. Read More>>