High-Strength Concrete - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2030)

The demand for high-strength concrete is expected to rise rapidly in the global residential sector

• In 2022, global consumption of high-strength concrete dipped by 2.32% compared to the previous year. The commercial sector saw the steepest decline, with a drop of 7.24%, primarily due to sluggish growth in construction volumes. As most economies stabilized and regained pre-pandemic levels in 2023, the sectors experienced high growth in construction activities, leading to an estimated increase of 6.1% in the overall global consumption of high-strength concrete compared to 2022.
• High-strength concrete offers several advantages over regular concrete, including enhanced load-bearing capacity, reduced weight, and heightened durability. Its compatibility with precast elements further streamlines construction, saving both time and money. Therefore, high-strength concrete is most preferred in the infrastructure sector compared to the rest of the sectors.
• The industrial & institutional sector is the second-largest consumer of high-strength concrete. Within this sector, the ready-mix variant dominates, accounting for 45% of the total volume in 2022. The precast type is projected to witness the highest CAGR of approximately 7% during the forecast period.
• In the residential sector, high-strength concrete is extensively used in high-rise buildings. Its exceptional load-bearing capabilities make it an economical choice for transferring vertical loads to a building's foundation. With global urbanization on the rise and a growing preference for vertical housing, the residential sector is anticipated to witness the fastest CAGR of 7.25% in high-strength concrete consumption during the forecast period.

The global high-strength concrete market is poised for growth, largely driven by the expanding commercial and residential sectors in Asia-Pacific

• The global consumption of high-strength concrete witnessed a decline of 14 million cubic meters in 2022 compared to the previous year. Asia-Pacific accounted for a significant portion of this decline, with a drop of 21 million cubic meters in 2022 compared to 2021. However, the scenario was set to change in 2023, as the surge in high-rise construction projects is projected to boost global consumption by approximately 36 million cubic meters.
• Asia-Pacific consistently leads in construction projects, spanning from small to mega-scale. A case in point is India, which, as of May 2022, had the highest number of infrastructure projects in progress or underway, with a cumulative value exceeding USD 25 million, surpassing all other nations. China and Australia secured the 3rd and 4th positions, respectively, in this ranking. These figures underscore the Asia-Pacific's dominance as the primary global consumer of high-strength concrete.
• Following the Asia-Pacific, Europe emerges as the second-largest market for high-strength concrete. Notably, Russia, Germany, and Italy stand out as pivotal players, collectively accounting for 48% of Europe's demand in 2022. The infrastructure, industrial, and institutional sectors are the major drivers, accounting for over 60% of the region's consumption.
• Asia-Pacific is poised to be the fastest-growing market for high-strength concrete, with a projected volume CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period. This growth is fueled by rising demand from the region's burgeoning residential and commercial sectors. For instance, the commercial sector's new floor area is anticipated to witness a robust CAGR of 5.2% in volume during the forecast period.

Global High-Strength Concrete Market Trends

Asia-Pacific's surge in large-scale office building projects is set to elevate the global floor area dedicated to commercial construction

• In 2022, the global new floor area for commercial construction witnessed a modest growth of 0.15% from the previous year. Europe stood out with a significant surge of 12.70%, driven by a push for high-energy-efficient office buildings to align with its 2030 carbon emission targets. As employees returned to offices, European companies, resuming lease decisions, spurred the construction of 4.5 million square feet of new office space in 2022. This momentum is poised to persist in 2023, with a projected global growth rate of 4.26%.
• The COVID-19 pandemic caused labor and material shortages, leading to cancellations and delays in commercial construction projects. However, as lockdowns eased and construction activities resumed, the global new floor area for commercial construction surged by 11.11% in 2021, with Asia-Pacific taking the lead with a growth rate of 20.98%.
• Looking ahead, the global new floor area for commercial construction is set to achieve a CAGR of 4.56%. Asia-Pacific is anticipated to outpace other regions, with a projected CAGR of 5.16%. This growth is fueled by a flurry of commercial construction projects in China, India, South Korea, and Japan. Notably, major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei are gearing up for an uptick in Grade A office space construction. Additionally, India is set to witness the opening of approximately 60 shopping malls, spanning 23.25 million square feet, in its top seven cities between 2023 and 2025. Collectively, these endeavors across Asia-Pacific are expected to add a staggering 1.56 billion square feet to the new floor area for commercial construction by 2030, compared to 2022.

South America's estimated fastest growth in residential constructions due to increasing government investments in schemes for affordable housing to boost the global residential sector

• In 2022, the global new floor area for residential construction declined by around 289 million square feet compared to 2021. This can be attributed to the housing crisis generated due to the shortage of land, labor, and unsustainably high construction materials prices. This crisis severely impacted Asia-Pacific, where the new floor area declined 5.39% in 2022 compared to 2021. However, a more positive outlook is expected in 2023 as the global new floor area is predicted to grow by 3.31% compared to 2022, owing to government investments that can finance the construction of new affordable homes capable of accommodating 3 billion people by 2030.
• The COVID-19 pandemic caused an economic slowdown, due to which many residential construction projects got canceled or delayed, and the global new floor area declined by 4.79% in 2020 compared to 2019. As the restrictions were lifted in 2021 and pent-up demand for housing projects was released, new floor area grew 11.22% compared to 2020, with Europe having the highest growth of 18.28%, followed by South America, which rose 17.36% in 2021 compared to 2020.
• The global new floor area for residential construction is expected to register a CAGR of 3.81% during the forecast period, with South America predicted to develop at the fastest CAGR of 4.05%. Schemes and initiatives like the Minha Casa Minha Vida in Brazil announced in 2023 with a few regulatory changes, for which the government plans an investment of USD 1.98 billion to provide affordable housing units for low-income families, and the FOGAES in Chile also publicized in 2023, with an initial investment of USD 50 million, are aimed at providing mortgage loans to families for affordable housing and will encourage the construction of new residential units.

High-Strength Concrete Industry Overview

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