In its most recent data released by market-intelligence firm IHS, the global information technology (IT) rack and enclosure market will grow 4.7 percent this year, to reach $1.5 billion. “Unit shipments of IT racks and enclosures are mainly driven by new data center construction,” according to Sarah McElroy, IHS senior research analyst for data centers, cloud and IT infrastructure. “However, revenue growth rates are predicted to be higher than unit growth rates because of shifts to products with larger dimensions, to premium models over basic models, and increased sales of accompanying airflow and cable management accessories, which customers often want integrated into the rack prior to shipping.”
Along with information about the IT rack and enclosure market, IHS released information about the global rack power distribution unit (PDU) market. That market is forecast to grow 5.6 percent in 2016 to reach $999 million.
Despite the fact that both the rack/enclosure and rack-PDU markets are experiencing mid-single-digit growth in 2016, IHS noted, “Both markets have been and continue to be negatively affected by the slowness in the markets in Russia, the Middle East, and Brazil due to their respective economic and political struggles. Uncertainty surrounding the impact that Brexit will have on the economies of the U.K., and the Eurozone as a whole, is expected to negatively affect market growth through 2017.”
