Although Accelerated Manufacturing Brokers, Inc. only represents Sellers in lower middle-market M&A transactions, because we specialize in manufacturing, buyers constantly reach out to provide us with their list of manufacturing sectors they’re seeking to make acquisitions in. Over the last 30 years, we’ve found that the buyer’s target acquisition sectors can be very predictive of M&A activity in the following 12-24 months.
Here are the top 7 manufacturing sectors sought for acquisition as we enter the 4th quarter of 2024 & 2025, with commentary on why these sectors are being sought:
- Aerospace & Defense – The massive number of inquiries we get for this sector may relate to the number of deals we’ve sold within it. Aerospace and defense-related M&A transactions kept us busy all summer, with three closings in Q3 and another expected in Q4. The global A&D market is expected to advance at a CAGR of 6.15% through 2030.
- Additive Manufacturing / 3-D Printing – The Global Additive Manufacturing Market is valued at $15 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of around $110 billion by 2033 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9% between 2023 and 2033. Meanwhile, the US Additive Manufacturing market, which was valued at $7 billion in 2023, is forecasted to expand at an amazing CAGR of 18.7% from 2024 to 2030 and reach over $22 billion.
- Infrastructure-Related Manufacturing & Repair – Between now and 2033, the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that nearly $7.4 trillion is needed across 11 infrastructure areas: highways, bridges, rail, transit, drinking water, stormwater, wastewater, electricity, airports, seaports, and inland waterways. This means an incredible opportunity for US manufacturers with capabilities in these areas.
- Electronic Printed Circuit Boards – The global printed circuit board market size was $87 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $152 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2024 to 2033. Demand is being driven by growth in several sectors:
- Advancements in industrial automation
- Autonomous driving and road safety technologies require advance PCBs
- Smart gadgets and wearables
- Increased demand for portable electronics
- Advanced Aerospace & Defense-related products
- Metal Coatings & Finishing – The global Metal Coatings Market is expected to grow to $23 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.5%.
- Plastic or Metal Extrusions – The plastic and metal extrusion market is driven by demand in construction, automotive, consumer goods, and more.
- The Extruded Plastics Market was valued at $240 billion in 2023. It is projected to grow to over $455 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.40%.
- The global metal extrusion market size is expected to reach a valuation of over $146 billion by 2030. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6%.
- Structural Steel Fabrication – This industry was valued at over $105 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to over $170 billion by 2031, driven by construction and infrastructure repair.
These are the top 7 manufacturing sectors sought for acquisition as we enter the 4th quarter of 2024 and 2025. Although we update our most wanted list each quarter, these are not the only sectors the Accelerated team focuses on. We’ve been serving the manufacturing community for over 30 years in a wide variety of sectors. If you’d like to understand the market for your type of manufacturing company, we can help. Please request a no-pressure and no-obligation consultation HERE.