MarketResearch.com is offering a report on World Construction Industry prepared by Freedonia Group Inc. According to this research, world demand to rise more than 5% yearly through 2017.
Through 2017, worldwide sales of construction aggregates are forecast to expand more than five percent per year to 53 billion metric tons. Following recent severe declines from 2007 to 2012, aggregates demand is projected to rebound sharply in North America and Western Europe as construction activity picks up. Eastern Europe is also expected to register faster growth through 2017. However, the global market will continue to be driven by above-average growth in the large Asia/Pacific and Africa/Mideast regions. The nonbuilding market for construction aggregates is expected to outpace the building segment through 2017, as governments in both developed and industrializing countries invest heavily in public infrastructures.
China alone to claim over half of all new demand
Between 2012 and 2017, more than 50 percent of all additional construction aggregates demand generated will be attributable to China, the world’s leading consumer of these products. Massive gains in building and nonbuilding construction activity will stimulate product demand in China. However, as the Chinese market matures, growth is expected to decelerate noticeably from the pace of the last decade. Aggregates consumption in India, the Asia/Pacific region’s second largest market, will expand at a faster pace through 2017. The construction aggregates markets of Eastern Europe, North America, and Western Europe are projected to expand between three and five percent per annum through 2017. As these regions recover from financial and fiscal crises, residential, commercial, and public works construction activity will rebound, generating additional demand for aggregates. North America and Eastern Europe will record somewhat faster growth than Western Europe during the 2012-2017 period. In terms of major countries, Spain, Russia, the United States, and Italy are expected to perform particularly well, as there is a considerable amount of pent-up demand in these markets.
Crushed stone to offer best growth opportunities
The crushed stone segment is expected to account for one-half of all new product demand generated between 2012 and 2017. Crushed stone will continue to benefit from its numerous performance features, such as durability and strength. Crushed stone is also projected to gain a larger share of the aggregates market due to the depletion of sand and gravel reserves in many countries around the world, including China, India, Japan, and Norway. However, crushed stone demand will be moderated by the increasing availability of manufactured sand, and alternative and recycled aggregates.
Hydraulic concrete to be fastest growing market
Worldwide sales of construction aggregates for hydraulic concrete applications are expected to grow slightly faster than the global average annual rate through 2017. Three-fifths of all new aggregates demand between 2012 and 2017 will be attributable to the hydraulic concrete segment. The development of new hydraulic concrete formulations — which will expand the range of uses for concrete — is expected to spur gains in the segment. Because of advances in new road construction and existing road improvement and repair, global sales of aggregates for road base and coverings, and asphaltic concrete applications are expected to accelerate through 2017.
