According to the latest report from ARC Advisory Group, the DCS market suffered more than anticipated in 2009, declining nearly seven percent. ABB increased its worldwide market share during the year.ARC forecasts that market growth should accelerate after 2011, but not near the levels prior to the recent recession. The compound annual growth rate for this market through 2014 is predicted at four percent. Historically, the process automation market has experienced slow but steady growth.The ARC report states that the global market in 2009 was affected by a decline in large automation projects, many of which were either put on hold or cancelled. Early 2010 data shows that these conditions are gradually improving for the automation suppliers."The worlds of automation and electrification are becoming increasingly entwined due to the substantial potential for energy savings, increased reliability and uptime, and reduced maintenance costs. ABB's ability to integrate the process control, process electrification, and power distribution and management portions of a plant with its system 800xA offers end users significant operational benefits," said Larry O'Brien, Research Director for Process Industries, ARC.According to the study, ABB was also the regional market share leader for Europe/Mid East/Africa (EMEA), and the worldwide leader in key global verticals including upstream oil & gas, pulp and paper, cement and glass.