Page 195 - CW E-Magazine (14-11-2023)

Special Report

Trends in the global market for construction chemicals

lobal demand for construction zing, such as India and several South- can improve the “health” of struc-
chemicals is forecast to grow east Asian nations, are expected to tures by reducing harmful emis-
G3.4% annually to $92.2-bn in see the fastest growth in construction sions.
2027. This will represent a signifi cant chemical sales. Demand in these areas  Caulks, spray polyurethane foam,

deceleration from the pace seen dur- will be supported by both an increase in and other construction chemicals
ing the 2017-2022 period, when sup- construction activity and greater uptake are used to limit heat transfer and
ply chain issues and rising raw mate- of chemicals as the quality of construc- improve the energy effi ciency of
rial costs caused construction chemical tion improves. structures.
prices to surge in 2021 and 2022.
However, real demand is expected to Sustainability will continue to impact Historical market trends
see solid growth due to: the global construction chemicals Construction chemicals are em-
 Accelerating construction activity – industry ployed in a wide variety of construc-
most notably among the residential Sustainability will impact all as- tion, such as residential and non-resi-
building and non-building segments – pects of construction; consumer interest dential buildings, roads, bridges, and
in developing regions where urbani- in eco-friendly structures continues to infrastructure including:
sation and investment in public rise, and governments are implement-  Airport runways and railway lines;
infrastructure is rising; and ing increasingly strict environmental  Ports and other marine structures;

 The desire for more sustainable regulations. Construction chemicals and
construction projects, in which con- can, in many ways, also be used to im-  Dams and pipelines.
struction chemicals can be used to prove the sustainability of construction
improve the energy effi ciency of projects: Global demand for construction
buildings.  Cement and concrete additives chemicals is at its most basic level
can be used to reduce the energy determined by underlying trends in
China & Western Nations remain and water requirements for – and the construction industry, primarily
biggest markets; industrializing the amount of carbon emissions levels of new construction, and repair
countries see fast growth released during – cement and con- and improvement activity. However, a
China will remain the largest market crete production. variety of other factors also have a strong
for construction chemicals, accounting  Protective coatings with lower levels impact on the volume of construction

for 30% of global demand in 2027. of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) chemicals used and the market’s value.
Although the country’s construction
industry is not expanding as rapidly 80000
as it did during the 2000s, it continues
to grow, and its already massive size 70000
allows for signifi cant use of construc-
tion chemicals for both building and 60000
infrastructure construction. 50000

North America and Western Europe, 40000
while mature markets, also represent
large outlets for construction chemi- 30000
cals. Gains in these regions will be 20000
supported by increasingly stringent
environmental regulations and growing 10000
demand for “green” buildings, which
necessitate the use of better performing 0 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021
(and more expensive) products.
Fig. 1: Global construction chemicals demand (2005-2022) (Million dollars)
Countries that are still industriali- Source: Freedonia Group.

Chemical Weekly November 14, 2023 195

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