Multinational Instruments plans to increase investment in emerging markets

According to the report of market research institute SDI, the global market for analysis and laboratory instruments in 2012 was approximately US$44 billion. For 2013, instrument manufacturers predicted that "at least in the first few months, the sales growth rate will remain at the low single digits."

Agilent Technologies Inc., which ended in the 2012 financial year on October 31, 2012, expects its revenue growth rate to be about 3.5%. "We assume there will be no new financial crisis in the United States or Europe," Agilent CEO William P. Sullivan told stock analysts at the end of 2012. "However, it is expected that in the first half of 2013, continuing uncertainty will dampen demand."

Instrument suppliers believe that the spending of academic institutions and government customers may also be constrained, especially in the West, and the growth of the industrial market will also slow down. However, many people are still optimistic about the global development trend of energy, environment, forensic medicine and food industry. They said that the market should remain stable in drug development and diagnostics.

Mike McMullen, president of Agilent's Chemical Analysis Group, said, "Despite the short-term challenges, Agilent will maintain its long-term commitment in many end markets, after all, the major trends in emerging markets have become more prominent."

Many companies plan to further expand in emerging regions. Although China's economic growth also slowed down in 2012, China is still an attractive market. "The limited local competition, the government's focus on laboratory infrastructure, and academic research have made the life sciences tools and diagnostics industry accurately positioned in China," said Goldman Sachs analyst Isaac Ro in a report at the end of 2012.

Mark Casper, CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific, told analysts, "In comparison with mature markets, emerging markets have more impressive growth rates, which has also triggered a shift in the focus of instrument suppliers. Everyone will see more in emerging markets. More investment, on the contrary, is strictly controlling investment in Western Europe and the United States."

For example, Thermo Fisher has been reducing its global manufacturing base, but is building bases in low-cost regions. “Although we have many initiatives to increase our company's growth, we are also cautiously and carefully managing our costs,” said Mark Casper. “We will closely monitor the market environment and we will take the necessary measures to control costs.”

In this case, the cost is very important, but investment in R&D and other fields is equally important, said Dusty Tenney, senior vice president of PerkinElmer. “If we do not invest, we will eventually lose opportunities. Not only will these investments promote business development in 2013, In 2014 and 2015, we can further enhance our business."