Southwestern Energy Businesses Poised to Benefit from Stronger U.S. and Global Economies in 2011

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Experts from the Oil & Gas, Petroleum Refining, Chemical Processing and Electric Power industries will present their 2011 outlooks for North American industrial spending and job creation, with special emphasis on the Gulf Coast region and its largest industries, in an executive briefing to be held on Tuesday, February 1, at the Hilton Americas, 1600 Lamar, in downtown Houston. The event will run from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Ballroom of the Americas on the hotel's second floor.

The 2011 Industrial Market Outlook will be hosted by Industrial Info Resources, a Sugar Land-based industrial market-intelligence firm. The briefing is complimentary and includes a networking reception where participants can speak with Industrial Info's industry experts. Attendance is limited to 400 people and requires an RSVP. Interested executives are encouraged to register in advance by calling Industrial Info's member services department at 800-762-3361 or by clicking here.

"Our 2011 Industrial Market Outlook is a must-attend event for business leaders and decision-makers in Texas and the southwestern U.S. who have interests in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy-related markets," said Michael Bergen, Industrial Info's executive vice president.

"The U.S. spent most of 2010 in a slow economic recovery, but continued strong growth overseas, coupled with stronger U.S. economic growth this year, is expected to make 2011 a very good year for industrial companies," he continued.

In 2011, more than 1,100 capital construction and maintenance projects across 12 industries are scheduled to kick off in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas, according to Industrial Info's project-tracking databases. These projects have a collective value of $54 billion. "Our industrial project research provides ample reason to believe that 2011 will be a good year for suppliers of industrial equipment and services," Bergen said.

Bergen noted a sharp increase in the number and value of industrial projects across North America that have been restarted over the past two years. "Industrial Info is tracking about 400 industrial capital or maintenance projects in the U.S. and Canada, valued at over $100 billion, which have been reactivated since January 2009. Previously, these projects have been placed 'on hold' or cancelled outright by their respective project managers," he said. These restarted projects are spread among the 12 different industrial markets that Industrial Info tracks.

The Feb. 1 Outlook briefing will focus on the industries that are of particular importance to Texas, the Gulf Coast and the southwestern United States: Oil & Gas Production, Petroleum Refining, Chemical Processing and Electric Power. Industrial Info's subject-matter experts will deliver prepared remarks on their respective industries, and will be available for questioning during a networking reception afterward.

Attendance at the Outlook briefing is open to business leaders, including C-level executives, vice presidents, directors, and marketing and sales professionals at engineering and construction firms, general contractors, architect and engineering firms, industrial equipment vendors, oil and gas companies, utilities, consultants, manufacturers' representatives, financial services firms, labor organizations, and professional-services firms.

Continued high oil prices led to a dramatic increase in project spending for the Oil & Gas Production industry in 2010, and Industrial Info sees this continuing in 2011, particularly as the U.S. economy continues to grow, Bergen said. "The remarkable increase in investment in drilling for natural gas in shale formations, notably the Eagle Ford and Barnett shales in Texas, is another reason to be optimistic about this industry in 2011." Industrial Info also expects continued robust project spending in 2011 to build more interstate and intrastate pipelines to bring more natural gas, crude oil and refined products to markets.

"The new year presents new opportunities and new trends that will be discussed by our experts at our 2011 Industrial Market Outlook," Bergen said. "We have documented growth in industrial project spending as companies replenish inventories and start new capital and maintenance projects. This event and our 2011 Global Industrial Outlook provide decision-makers with up-to-the-minute, forward-looking, market intelligence that gives them a vital edge to better plan for their future business-development efforts," Bergen said.

The 2011 Global Industrial Outlook is Industrial Info's 18th annual report that analyzes data and trend analyses of current and future industrial project spending opportunities across 12 global industrial markets. This annual forecast provides comprehensive spending forecasts for 2011 and ongoing analysis of major project spending, new plant startup activity and plant closures. The online report includes quarterly updates throughout the year, plus historical spending statistics going back five years.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. IIR's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.