ABB는 미국 수주가 82% 증가했다고 발표했으며, 전력 공급 확보와 효율 개선을 위한 송배전망 개보수 및 구축에 대한 유틸리티 업체들의 지속적인 투자를 그 배경으로 꼽았다.

Zurich-based grid equipment manufacturer ABB reported that third-quarter orders grew 40% over the same period last year, to a record $12 billion globally. Demand from data centers and utilities in the United States helped drive the growth, the company said Tuesday.

ABB produces a wide range of electrical equipment for utilities and other industrial users, including switchgear, circuit breakers, transfer switches and low-voltage transformers. Orders improved at double-digit year-over-year rates in every region. Orders from the Americas rose about 70%, led by an 82% year-over-year increase from the United States.

"Utilities continue to invest in refurbishment and build-out of the electrical grid to secure power availability and efficiency," the company said in a press release.

ABB reported third-quarter net income of $1.9 billion, down 2% from a year earlier. The decline was partly due to $115 million in charges on non-cash exchange hedging related to its ongoing acquisition of Rotork, a manufacturer of electric actuators.

Third-quarter revenue rose 14% year over year, to $9.7 billion from $8.5 billion. The company also announced Tuesday that it will hold a 51% stake in a joint venture with the carved-out low-voltage power distribution product business of Mitsubishi Electric.

ABB's electrification segment booked record orders of $7.67 billion in the third quarter, up 70% year over year. Electrification orders in the Americas grew 117% in the period, while orders in Europe grew about 20% and in China by almost 40% on a comparable basis.

"This sustained momentum underscored the tailwind from energy expansion, including the need for more electrical power, higher power density, and transition toward decarbonized solutions," the company said.

ABB described "strong improvement" in its utilities segment, adding that "grid investment need remaining tangible as aging assets require upgrades to not only mitigate outage risks, but to also meet accelerating power demands."

Chief Financial Officer Christian Nilsson called data centers the "standout" customers in the results, with orders from that segment increasing by triple digits.

"But it's not just data centers, of course. The general investment and build-out of the grid really demonstrates strong growth," Nilsson said in a recorded video released by the company.

ABB's buildings segment also improved, "driven by the commercial segment in all regions," the company said. "This includes our strong performance in an otherwise generally soft market in China ... Residential remains weak in China and broadly stable in both Europe and the United States."