Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Bearings
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Bearings Global Overview
Definition
Summary
Bearings, which are typically comprised of balls or rollers, are machine components that constrain motion between moving parts to minimize friction and facilitate a specific type of movement. Buyers include aerospace and automobile manufacturers, as well as oil and gas producers.
This Report Includes:
- Bearing Heaters
- Bearing Races
- Lubricants
- Flanged Bearings
- Radial Bearings
Not in this Report:
- Wheels
- Pivots
Classification:
Global Bearings Procurement Trends
Discover the top international trends affecting procurement in the global Bearings market.
Warning Trends
Public sector demand slumps as the government enters shutdown
- On October 1, the US federal government entered a shutdown after negotiations for a new appropriations bill failed.
- During a government shutdown, essential federal government operations, such as law enforcement, air-traffic control, and social security, persist, while nonessential operations are paused and workers involved in these operations are furloughed. Thus, the current shutdown is expected to result in 750,000 federal workers being furloughed, representing a $400 million reduction in daily expenditure by the federal government.
- This significant reduction in federal spending and operations will affect the entire US economy, weakening aggregate demand and slowing economic growth. For example, the 35-day government shutdown in Q1, 2019, reduced aggregate demand in both the public and private sectors, resulting in a 0.2% reduction in GDP growth that quarter.
- The effects of the shutdown are likely to be most acute in markets where the public sector is a major buyer segment, weakening demand and increasing average vendor risk by destabilizing important revenue streams.
- As negotiations for a new appropriations bill to reopen the government remain ongoing, ProcurementIQ will continue to monitor the situation and update this story with the latest information.
Manufacturing component prices to rise in response to elevated tariffs
- The Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs, which apply broad tariffs to all imports from most nations, are set to take effect on August 7 after the rates were finalized on August 1.
- However, these tariff increases exempt steel and aluminum products, which already face a flat tariff rate of 50.0% regardless of source country, except for the United Kingdom, as of mid-June.
- The tariffs on steel and aluminum are set to increase domestic prices for these metals by 37.6%, translating to similar price increases for manufacturing components made from these materials, such as springs, non-electric wire and cable, or fasteners.
- Nonmetallic manufacturing components, such as those made from plastic and other materials, are likely to see significant price increases when the reciprocal tariffs go into effect, with the Yale Budget Lab projecting an 11.0% average price increase for plastic and rubber goods.
- As tariff policy continues to evolve, this story will be continuously updated to reflect the impacts.
United States announces new tariffs on all imported steel
- In February 2025, the United States announced 25.0% tariffs on all imported steel with no exemptions or exceptions. The tariffs took effect on March 12, 2025. On June 4th, these tariffs were increased further to 50%. These tariffs were not impacted by a recent court decision that temporarily suspended duties on certain goods as they were implemented under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.
- Previously, countries such as Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, the top exporters of steel to the United States, had exemptions from tariffs. These have now been removed and all imported steel, regardless of origin, will be subject to the 50.0% tariff. However, on May 8th, the US announced an agreement with the United Kingdom to remove all levies on steel exported from the UK.
- When tariffs on steel imports were introduced in March 2018, they contributed to an increase in the price of steel and steel products. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of steel-milled products increased by 10.2% in the year after the tariffs were implemented. This market heavily relies on steel as an input and may be impacted by this policy.
Global Bearings Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1 Europe | 6,050 |
| #2 China | 4,740 |
| #3 India | 3,440 |
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2
Geography Drilldown - US & Europe
Average Cost of Bearings
United States
2026 Market Pricing$5.00 to $XXX.XX
per bearingEurope
Average Price
Prices in the Bearings market range from $5.00 to $XXX.XX, depending on Technical Specifications, Material Composition, Size and Brand. For example, lower prices are associated with Wheel bearings ($3.00 to $70.00 per 15-mm roller bearing), whereas higher prices are associated with Aerospace bearings ($145 to $180 per 15-mm roller bearing).
Need the scoop on international price trends?
Between our Europe and Canada collections, we provide price data for 350 markets so you can instantly compare prices across borders. Or, use our custom research services for intel on prices in any region across the globe.
Bearings Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Bearings market, prices in the US have grown 3.4% from 2022 to 2025. Meanwhile, the recent three-year CAGR for Europe is +3.0%.
United States (2022-2025)
Europe (2022-2025)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Wondering where prices are heading?
Price trend forecasts are available to subscribers, along with price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data.
Cost Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for Bearings
Total cost of ownership is Low in the Bearings market. The average cost of ownership differs depending on the contract but generally includes costs negotiated before the contract begins, costs billed during the contract period and unforeseen costs. For example, unforeseen costs in the form of Emergencies may raise the total cost of ownership unexpectedly.
Negotiated Before
Transportation
Billed During
Maintenance
Unforeseen
Emergencies
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2026, buyer power amounts to -3.1 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Recent Price Trend. It is most negatively impacted by Switching Costs. Subscribers can access details on eight other factors that impact buyer power. Learn more
United States
Europe
Buyer power forecasts: your glimpse into the future
Develop strategies for the upcoming year and identify unforeseen opportunities for buying now
- Actionable "Buy Now" and "Buy Later" insights
- Near-real-time updates to current and forecast Buyer Power Scores
- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as High, which has a negative impact on buyer power. The level of supply chain risk is affected by industry volatility, barriers to entry, competition, import penetration, regulation and industry financial risk. Buyers in this market can mitigate procurement and supply chain management risks by monitoring risk levels for individual first and second tier suppliers:
1st
Tier Suppliers
- Steel Framing Suppliers
- Iron & Steel Manufacturers
- Laminated Plastics Manufacturers
- Nonferrous Metal Rolling & Alloying Suppliers
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Steel Rollers & Drawers
- Ferrous Metal Product Suppliers
- Plastic & Resin Manufacturers
- Mining, Oil & Gas Machinery Manufacturers
Biggest Bearings Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Bearings vendors by revenue in the US are Aktiebolaget Skf, Schaeffler Ag and W.W. Grainger, Inc. Subscribers can sort and filter by market share concentration, profit level and other factors. Learn more
| Supplier | Operational Size | Headquarters | Number of Employees | Market Share (%) | Market Share Performance (3yr trend) | Total Revenue ($ million) | Profit Level (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aktiebolaget Skf | Global | Gothenburg, SE | >10,001 | 10-15 | ||||
| Schaeffler Ag | Global | Herzogenaurach, DE | >10,001 | 10-15 | ||||
| Timken Co | Global | NORTH CANTON, OH | >10,000 | 15-20 | ||||
| NSK Ltd. | Global | Tokyo, JP | >10,001 | 5-10 | ||||
| Jtekt Corp | Global | Kariya, JP | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| NTN Corporation | Global | Osaka, JP | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| W.W. Grainger, Inc. | Global | LAKE FOREST | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Msc industrial direct co., inc. | Global | MELVILLE | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| McMaster-Carr Supply Company | International | Aurora, OH | 501-1,000 | < 5 | ||||
Looking for a list of suppliers by country?
Subscribers can access vendor information on Canadian and European suppliers, too. We also offer custom research services to help with vendor sourcing anywhere in the world.
Profit Analysis
The average profit margin across vendors in the Bearings market is 6.9% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Overhead. The cost trend for this component is falling, when considering movement between 2025 and 2026. To understand cost forecasts for 2027 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
High supply chain risk indicates a greater likelihood of upstream supplier issues that can inhibit or delay a buyer’s ability to purchase products.
The overall high level of market share concentration indicates that while competition in the market exists, large suppliers have significant leverage and can use that leverage to influence pricing trends.
Vendors face moderate risk primarily due to the reliance on steel to manufacture bearings. As a result, some risk is passed on to buyers in the form of higher prices.
The United States is a net importer of bearings, meaning it imports more bearings than it exports. US buyers seeking to import bearings may need to assess the quality standards and production capacities of international manufacturers, with considerations like the expected lead times for delivery, quality and safety certifications, and the compatibility of the manufactured goods with US standards.
Supplier Information
Aktiebolaget Skf
Aktiebolaget Skf is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include bearings. Founded in 1907, the company is currently headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden with an estimated employee count of over 10,000. Subscribe to learn more
Schaeffler Ag
Schaeffler AG is a private company operating in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include bearings. Founded in 2018, the company is currently headquartered in United States of America. Subscribe to learn more
Timken Co
Timken Co is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include bearings. Founded in 1899, the company is currently headquartered in NORTH CANTON, Ohio, United States of America with an estimated 19000 employees. Subscribe to learn more
NSK Ltd.
NSK Ltd. is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include bearings. Founded in 1916, the company is currently headquartered in Tokyo, Japan with an estimated employee count of over 10,000. Subscribe to learn more
Jtekt Corp
Jtekt Corp is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include metal grinding machines and bearings. Founded in 2006, the company is currently headquartered in Kariya, Japan with an estimated employee count of over 10,000. Subscribe to learn more
Kaman Corporation
Kaman Corporation is a diversified company that develops and manufactures components for the aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial markets. It organizes its business into three segments: the Engineered Products segment, which provides proprietary aircraft bearings and components; super precision, miniature... Subscribe to learn more
McMaster-Carr Supply Company
McMaster-Carr Supply Company is a private company operating internationally in the manufacturing and manufacturing sectors. The company's offerings include metal cutting tools, air-filled packing materials, pneumatic motors, mechanical cable and bearings. Founded in 1901, the company is currently headquartered... Subscribe to learn more
Msc industrial direct co., inc.
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. is a distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products and services. It offers cutting tools, measuring instruments, tooling components, metalworking products, fasteners, flat stock, raw materials, abrasives, hand and power tools, safety and... Subscribe to learn more
NTN Corporation
NTN Corporation is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include bearings. Founded in 2013, the company is currently headquartered in Osaka, Japan with an estimated employee count of over 10,000. Subscribe to learn more
Accelerate the vendor selection process
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Procurement Management KPIs for the Bearings Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Defect Density and Mean Time to Failure (MTTF). Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Quality and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defect Density |
|
Number of units sold Number of defective units |
The defect density represents the share of defective products a company produces. The defect density can be used to determine whether manufacturing, assembly or quality assurance processes require improvement. |
| Mean Time to Failure (MTTF) |
|
Number of operational hours Number of assets in use |
The mean time to failure represents the average time it takes for an operational asset to become inoperative. The mean time to failure can be used to determine the average life span of an asset. The mean time to failure can be used to predict capital expenses. |
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Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Logistics
Will you provide a list of your distribution facilities locations, both domestically and internationally?
What are your shipping rates to my facilities? Do shipping rates vary if I need products shipped to more than one location?
Supply Chain Risk
During the past three years, what percentage of your revenue has been dedicated to raw input materials? How has that changed?
Do you source materials with a high exposure to market disruptions resulting from the pandemic? How are you coping with these disruptions?
Experience and Expertise
What are some similar clients you have serviced, along with dates and service periods?
Will you provide a list of client references, along with contact information?
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Bearings RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should describe their operations (i.e., automobile manufacturing, aerospace, electrical equipment, home appliances, etc.) to help vendors understand their general needs.
Buyers should provide a detailed description of their manufactured products, which will help vendors ascertain the type of grade and tolerance ratings buyers need.
Statement Of Need
Buyers should list the type (i.e. ball or wheel) and volume of bearings they require.
Buyers should provide a detailed description of their manufactured products, which will help vendors ascertain the type of grade and tolerance ratings buyers need.
Project Budget
Buyers should explicitly state the amount for the award.
Buyers should explain the schedule with which payments will be made.
The RFP process made easy
Find out how you can access RFP templates for 800+ procurement categories to start writing better, more consistent RFPs.
We display average pricing information, trends and market data.
Our Reports include:
- Opportunity assessment
- Market dynamics
- Recent developments
- Positive and warning trends
- Buyer power levers
- Price environment and market pricing
- Geographic wage rates
- Global market updates
- Total cost of ownership
- Cost structure benchmarks and analysis
- Supply chain and vendors
- Global supplier breakdown
- Market share concentration
- Regulation and business requirements
- Vendor management and KPIs
- Sourcing strategy guidance
