The global construction industry is expected to grow by an average of 3.6% a year over the forecast period 2018 to 2022, according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company.
The company’s latest report, ‘Global Construction Outlook to 2022: Q3 2018 Update’ reveals that in real value terms*, global construction output is forecast to rise to $12.9 trillion by 2022, up from $10.8 trillion in 2017.
Danny Richards, Construction Lead Analyist at GlobalData, says, ‘‘We forecast that global construction output growth will accelerate to +3.6% in 2018, up from 3.1% in 2017, reflecting the recovery in the US as well as general improvements across emerging markets. In South and South-East Asia, for example, construction in India has regained growth momentum, while the pick-up in oil prices has supported the recovery in the Middle East and Africa.’’
The pace of global construction growth is set to improve slightly to 3.7% between 2019 and 2020, before easing back in the latter part of the forecast period, reflecting trends in some of the largest markets.
The Asia-Pacific region will continue to account for the largest share of the global construction industry, however the pace of growth will slow given the projected slowdown in China’s construction industry to an average of +4.2% between 2018 and 2022, offset by an acceleration in construction growth in India.
Construction activity is gathering momentum across Western Europe with the region’s output set to expand by 2.4% a year on average from 2018 to 2022. However, expansion in the UK is subject to major downside risks in the face of uncertainty over Brexit.
The Middle East and Africa region as a whole will be the fastest with an annual average growth of 6.4% from 2018 to 2022. Countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have suffered from the weakness in oil prices in recent years, greatly reducing government revenues. As oil prices pick up, however, large-scale investment in infrastructure projects - mostly related to transport - will be a key driving force behind the construction growth in the region.
Richards says, “Whilst there are intensifying downside risks for global construction related to global economic growth, notably stemming from the erupting trade war between the US and China, the global economy will continue to expand in the range of 2.5% to 3% a year from 2018 to 2022 which will support continued construction growth in key markets.’’
* ‘real value terms’ is measured from constant 2017 prices and US$ exchange rates
Related Stories
Contractors | Sep 12, 2023
The average U.S. contractor has 9.2 months worth of construction work in the pipeline, as of August 2023
Associated Builders and Contractors' Construction Backlog Indicator declined to 9.2 months in August, down 0.1 month, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Aug. 21 to Sept. 6. The reading is 0.5 months above the August 2022 level.
Contractors | Sep 11, 2023
Construction industry skills shortage is contributing to project delays
Relatively few candidates looking for work in the construction industry have the necessary skills to do the job well, according to a survey of construction industry managers by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Autodesk.
Market Data | Sep 6, 2023
Far slower construction activity forecast in JLL’s Midyear update
The good news is that market data indicate total construction costs are leveling off.
Giants 400 | Sep 5, 2023
Top 80 Construction Management Firms for 2023
Alfa Tech, CBRE Group, Skyline Construction, Hill International, and JLL top the rankings of the nation's largest construction management (as agent) and program/project management firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Sep 5, 2023
Top 150 Contractors for 2023
Turner Construction, STO Building Group, DPR Construction, Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., and Clark Group head the ranking of the nation's largest general contractors, CM at risk firms, and design-builders for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Market Data | Sep 5, 2023
Nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in July 2023
National nonresidential construction spending grew 0.1% in July, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.08 trillion and is up 16.5% year over year.
Giants 400 | Aug 31, 2023
Top 35 Engineering Architecture Firms for 2023
Jacobs, AECOM, Alfa Tech, Burns & McDonnell, and Ramboll top the rankings of the nation's largest engineering architecture (EA) firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
Top 115 Architecture Engineering Firms for 2023
Stantec, HDR, Page, HOK, and Arcadis North America top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential building and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
2023 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
A record 552 AEC firms submitted data for BD+C's 2023 Giants 400 Report. The final report includes 137 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
Top 175 Architecture Firms for 2023
Gensler, HKS, Perkins&Will, Corgan, and Perkins Eastman top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture firms for nonresidential building and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
