Balance Shaft Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Engine Type (Inline 3-cylinder Engine, Inline 4-cylinder Engine, Inline 5-cylinder Engine, and V6 Engine), By Manufacturing Process (Forging and Casting), By Application (Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles, and Heavy Commercial Vehicles), By Demand Category (Original Equipment Manufacturer, Aftermarket), By Regional, By Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 15.91 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.07%
Fastest Growing Segment	Passenger Cars
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 21.41 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Balance Shaft Market will grow from USD 15.91 Billion in 2025 to USD 21.41 Billion by 2031 at a 5.07% CAGR. A balance shaft is a mechanical component integrated into internal combustion engines to counteract rotational imbalances, significantly reducing vibration and noise to enhance powertrain refinement. The market is primarily supported by the widespread downsizing of engines to three-cylinder and four-cylinder configurations, which necessitate auxiliary balancing to meet strict noise, vibration, and harshness standards. Additionally, tightening emission regulations encourage the adoption of these fuel-efficient engine architectures, thereby sustaining the demand for balancing units to ensure operational smoothness without compromising performance.

However, the accelerating shift toward vehicle electrification presents a substantial challenge to market growth, as battery electric vehicles function without internal combustion engines. This transition creates a long-term threat to the demand for mechanical balancing components. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, in 2024, petrol and hybrid-electric vehicles collectively held a market share of roughly 64% in the European Union. While this underscores a continued reliance on conventional powertrains, the gradual decline of pure internal combustion engine dominance limits the sector's prospective expansion.

Key Market Drivers

The implementation of stringent global emission and fuel economy standards forces manufacturers to refine internal combustion efficiency through downsizing and hybridization. To meet regulatory targets, OEMs increasingly utilize three-cylinder and inline-four configurations, which naturally generate higher second-order vibrations. Balance shafts are essential in these architectures to neutralize imbalance and ensure the powertrain operates within acceptable limits. This trend is reinforced by the surge in hybrid vehicle adoption, which pairs optimized engines with electric motors, thereby sustaining the requirement for vibration reduction hardware. According to Ford Motor Company, April 2024, in the 'Ford U.S. Sales Rise 7 Percent in Q1' report, hybrid vehicle sales reached record highs with a 42 percent increase to 38,421 units, demonstrating the growing reliance on fuel-efficient powertrains that necessitate mechanical balancing.

The expansion of global automotive manufacturing and vehicle sales serves as a foundational driver, as higher production volumes directly correlate with increased component procurement. Total output of passenger and commercial vehicles has rebounded, ensuring consistent demand for engine components across major markets. This growth encompasses a vast number of traditional and hybrid models that utilize balance shafts to deliver the refinement expected by modern consumers. According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), March 2024, in the '2023 Production Statistics', global motor vehicle production grew by 10 percent to reach 93.5 million units. Additionally, according to Toyota Motor Corporation, in 2024, the company reported record global sales of over 11.2 million vehicles for the previous year, confirming the substantial scale of internal combustion-based manufacturing.

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Key Market Challenges

The accelerating transition toward vehicle electrification poses a distinct structural barrier to the balance shaft market. Since balance shafts are engineered specifically to counteract the inherent imbalances and vibrations of internal combustion engines, the elimination of these engines in battery electric vehicles removes the fundamental requirement for such mechanical balancing components. As automotive manufacturers reallocate capital and production capacity toward electric powertrains, the total addressable market for conventional engine parts faces inevitable contraction. This technological shift disrupts the traditional supply chain, forcing component suppliers to contend with reducing volume requirements for parts exclusively tied to fossil fuel propulsion.

The magnitude of this shift is evident in recent global sales figures which reflect the growing preference for non-combustion technologies. According to the International Energy Agency, in 2024, global electric car sales were projected to reach approximately 17 million units, representing more than 20% of all cars sold worldwide. This substantial market penetration by vehicles that do not require balance shafts limits the long-term volume potential for manufacturers in this sector. Consequently, the continued expansion of the electric vehicle segment directly correlates with a narrowing opportunity for mechanical balancing systems in the broader automotive landscape.

Key Market Trends

The adoption of integrated oil pump and balance shaft modules is reshaping component design as manufacturers prioritize compact packaging and weight reduction. In modern hybrid and downsized powertrains, space is at a premium, compelling engineers to merge the oil pump and balance shaft into a single, cohesive unit. This integration eliminates the need for separate housings and drive mechanisms, thereby reducing the engine’s overall footprint and mass while maintaining essential vibration dampening capabilities. This shift towards versatile, space-saving mechanical architectures allows suppliers to maintain strong growth even as the industry diversifies. According to Linamar Corporation, March 2024, in the '2023 Annual Report', sales for the company's Mobility segment, which specializes in these propulsion-agnostic systems and integrated modules, increased by 18% for the year, reflecting robust demand for optimized mechanical hardware in evolving vehicle platforms.

The implementation of rolling bearing supports for friction reduction represents a critical engineering evolution aimed at maximizing internal combustion efficiency. Conventional plain bearings in balance shafts are increasingly being replaced by needle or roller bearings, which significantly lower friction coefficients and reduce the oil pressure requirements of the engine. This technological enhancement directly addresses stringent CO2 emission targets by minimizing parasitic energy losses, ensuring that remaining internal combustion engines operate at peak efficiency. The market demand for such refined, friction-minimized components remains high as OEMs seek every possible marginal gain in fuel economy. According to Schaeffler AG, March 2024, in the 'Annual Report 2023', the Engine & Transmission Systems business division, which produces these advanced friction-reducing balancer shafts, achieved a constant-currency revenue growth of 5.3 percent, driven largely by the sustained need for efficiency technologies in European and global markets.

Segmental Insights

The passenger cars segment is currently positioned as the fastest-growing category within the global balance shaft market. This expansion is primarily driven by the industry-wide trend toward engine downsizing to comply with stringent emission regulations enforced by agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency. As automotive manufacturers transition to smaller inline-four cylinder engines to improve fuel efficiency, the need to counteract inherent engine imbalances increases significantly. Consequently, balance shafts are increasingly utilized to reduce noise and vibration, ensuring that vehicles maintain the smooth driving characteristics required by modern consumers.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific maintains a leading position in the global balance shaft market primarily due to the substantial volume of passenger vehicle manufacturing in China, Japan, and India. This regional dominance is reinforced by the widespread production of inline-four cylinder engines, which utilize balance shafts to neutralize secondary engine vibrations and ensure smooth operation. Additionally, increasing consumer purchasing power has accelerated the demand for vehicles with improved noise and vibration characteristics. Consequently, the presence of major original equipment manufacturers and established automotive supply chains solidifies Asia Pacific as the primary hub for this industry.

Recent Developments

• In March 2025, Linamar Corporation, a diversified global manufacturing company and a key player in the automotive powertrain market, reported its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2024. The company achieved record sales of $10.6 billion, representing an 8.7% increase compared to the previous year. The Mobility segment, which encompasses the manufacturing of precision metallic components like balance shafts and driveline systems, saw sales increase by 5.7% to nearly $7.5 billion. This growth was attributed to the launch of new programs and an increase in content per vehicle in North America, despite broader market challenges in global vehicle production.
• In November 2024, Sansera Engineering Limited, a major Indian manufacturer of complex precision engineered components including crankshafts and balance shafts, announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The company reported its highest-ever quarterly revenue with a year-on-year growth of 10%, driven by healthy execution of its order book. The firm highlighted a robust order book standing at ₹20 billion, which is well-diversified across automotive internal combustion engine (ICE) components and emerging segments. This performance underscored the continued demand for precision engine parts even as the company diversifies into non-automotive sectors.
• In October 2024, Schaeffler AG, a leading global supplier of motion and mobility solutions whose portfolio includes rolling bearings for balance shafts and engine systems, successfully completed its merger with Vitesco Technologies Group AG. The completion of this transaction marked a significant consolidation in the automotive supplier industry, creating a combined entity focused on motion technology. The merger was designed to strengthen the company’s competitiveness across both conventional internal combustion engine domains and electrified powertrains, allowing for a more integrated approach to vehicle dynamics and system components.
• In September 2024, Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd., a prominent Japanese manufacturer of transmission and engine components such as balance shafts and gears, announced a strategic partnership with Log9 Materials. While Musashi is traditionally known for its precision powertrain parts for internal combustion engines, this collaboration aims to develop integrated powertrain solutions for electric vehicles, specifically targeting the two-wheeler and three-wheeler markets. This move represents a significant strategic pivot for the company as it leverages its expertise in drivetrain technology to adapt to the evolving global automotive landscape while maintaining its core competencies in precision manufacturing.

Key Market Players

• American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
• Engine Power Components, Inc.
• Hirschvogel Group
• Linamar Corporation
• MAT Foundry Group Ltd.
• Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd.
• Ningbo Jingda Hardware Manufacture Co., Ltd.
• Otics Corporation
• Sansera Engineering Limited
• TFO Corporation

By Engine Type	By Manufacturing Process	By Application	By Demand Category	By Region
Inline 3-cylinder Engine Inline 4-cylinder Engine Inline 5-cylinder Engine V6 Engine	Forging and Casting	Passenger Cars Light Commercial Vehicles Heavy Commercial Vehicles	Original Equipment Manufacturer Aftermarket	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Balance Shaft Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Balance Shaft Market, By Engine Type:

• Inline 3-cylinder Engine
• Inline 4-cylinder Engine
• Inline 5-cylinder Engine
• V6 Engine

• Balance Shaft Market, By Manufacturing Process:

• Forging and Casting

• Balance Shaft Market, By Application:

• Passenger Cars
• Light Commercial Vehicles
• Heavy Commercial Vehicles

• Balance Shaft Market, By Demand Category:

• Original Equipment Manufacturer
• Aftermarket

• Balance Shaft Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE