The SAM medium voltage cable market is expected to grow from US$ 1,399.9 million in 2019 to US$ 1,866.5 million by 2027; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.85% from 2020 to 2027.
Refinement in the cable technology is expected to accelerate the SAM medium voltage cable market. With growing popularity and adoption of underground cable systems, noteworthy technological advancements have been introduced to overcome the various limitations of these cables. Most of these innovations are focused on advancements of insulation and voltage grade. The progress in the area of material science has helped in the development of better-quality polymers capable of achieving required mechanical and electrical properties of the cable. For instance, the introduction of Teflon cables, which are capable to withstand up to 250°C temperatures, has become an alternative solution to conventional polymer cables that can usually withstand temperature up to 70°C. Further, alternative conductors have already been discovered, which can replace high-cost copper. Such developments would further increase the deployment of new cable technologies in various end-use industries across SAM region, which, in turn will drive the growth of the SAM medium voltage cable market.
Furthermore, in case of COVID-19, SAM is highly affected specially the Brazil, which has the highest number of COVID-19 cases, followed by Peru, Chile, and Argentina, among others. The government of SAM countries has taken an array of actions to protect its citizens and contain the spread of COVID-19. The containment protocols have been implemented for the construction sector to ensure the safety of construction workers. However, some of the new protocols and restrictions require construction to continue if the project is considered critical. For instance, in Panama, the president placed an executive mandate to stop all construction for 30 days. In Chile, CODELCO stopped all projects and started reviewing all construction contracts individually to identify the next steps to follow. The COVID-19 spread has resulted in the slowdown of the region's construction industry, which has negatively affected the growth of the medium voltage cable market in the region.
The overhead cables and accessories segment led the SAM medium voltage cable market based on installation type in 2019. Majority of overhead cables have been traditionally used for transmitting and distributing the electric power. The configuration of overhead cables is simple. These cables are commonly commissioned using poles and towers. The bare wire conductors in these lines are usually made of aluminum as the key material; however, certain medium voltage wires made of copper are used for distribution to customer premises. Overhead wires are continuously exposed to open atmosphere. These cable systems are less expensive as compared to underground cables and are also easy to maintain owing to clear visibility. Further, the cost of installation is less. These advantages of overhead cable systems coupled with other advantages, such as higher lifespan and smaller size of conductors, are boosting their deployment. These cables are the most preferred cable systems for medium voltage electricity transfer and distribution. Benefits of overhead cables and accessories such as less expensive, high life span, small size of conductors etc. are expected to increase the demand of medium voltage cable, driving the SAM medium voltage cable market.
The overall SAM medium voltage cable market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources. To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the SAM medium voltage cable market. The process also serves the purpose of obtaining overview and forecast for the SAM medium voltage cable market with respects to all the segments pertaining to the region. Also, multiple primary interviews have been conducted with industry participants and commentators to validate the data, as well as to gain more analytical insights into the topic. The participants who typically take part in such a process include industry experts such as VPs, business development managers, medium voltage cable market intelligence managers, and national sales managers along with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in the SAM medium voltage cable market. Alpha Wire; Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.; General Cable Technologies Corporation; LEONI AG; LS Cable & System Ltd.; Nexans; and Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. are among a few players operating in the SAM medium voltage cable market.