Your quest is not uncommon on the forums. Previous threads even requested full global analyses.

I am not aware of any papers on the subject. All I can tell you is that the particular market is shrinking. The starting point would be belt manufacturers because they cover the whole spectrum but their supply is clouded by source and application. For 'clouded' read 'hidden'.

Overland conveyors are very unpopular in the developed world; plants are getting more compact due to better logistics alternatives; Chinese manufacturers bombard the business and most of the other manufacturers source from China anyway. If you listen to Chinese belting suppliers you begin to wonder where they get so much rubber from. What else do you need?

An Irish saying "If I wanted to go there I wouldn't be starting from here!" applies and you will be starting from scratch. But if you work hard and fast enough you might just finish a study before the market diminishes to side saddlers' proportions. ■