Ken Long leads a team of analysts that produce studies on building and construction products at The Freedonia Group, where he has worked for more than 18 years. He has authored 64 studies, and his research has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, and many trade journals.

You know the saying: New year, new market opportunities!

After a chaotic 2018 — a year defined by tariffs and trade wars, unprecedented merger and acquisition activity, stock market volatility, and murmurings that a new recession is brewing — finding the next big industry can be a real challenge.

The off-highway equipment market – which includes machinery used primarily off-road in construction, mining, forestry, and agricultural applications, among others – has struggled in recent years, restrained by challenging worldwide economic conditions and fluctuations in pricing and material costs. 

However, according to an ebook from The Freedonia Group, this market is expected to rebound through 2021, supported by growth in a few key global industries.

The exterior components of a building — also known as the building envelope — are a key consideration for construction professionals. The choice of materials greatly influences construction and maintenance costs, ease of installation, durability, and sustainability.

The automotive aftermarket — the secondary market for vehicle parts used in repair and maintenance — encompasses everything from brake parts to filters to batteries. Automotive aftermarket companies include General Motors, Bosch, Standard Motor Products, Denso, Federal-Mogul, and CARDONE Industries, among others.

The past few years have seen quite a boom in merger and acquisition activity, particularly in the packaging market. For proof of this, look no further than the blockbuster August announcement that Amcor planned to acquire rival packaging firm Bemis in an all-stock transaction valued at nearly US$5.3 billion.

Boosted by an increase in single-family housing starts and the rising need for storm-resistant products, the demand for roofing in the U.S. is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9% to reach $19.9 billion in 2021, according to a new white paper by The Freedonia Group, a leading international business research company.

Power lawn and garden equipment is an important component of the lawn care industry and the landscaping industry. Both residential home gardeners and commercial landscapers use a variety of equipment such as lawnmowers, garden tractors, trimmers and edgers, and blowers. This equipment aids in the upkeep of manicured lawns and gardens, parks, golf courses, and athletic fields.

Since 1985, The Freedonia Group has provided high-quality industry market research used by business leaders, strategists, and decision makers around the globe.

Finding the next hot growth market is not always easy. Sometimes, the outlook for a new product is obvious. Take smartphones, for example. Other times, disruptive forces bring about sudden and unpredicted changes. For example, not until after news broke that Amazon acquired Whole Foods did grocery retailers roll out plans to expand their digital platforms and offer home delivery — sweeping changes few grocers had considered before the bombshell made adaptation a matter of survival.