Imagine a trillion-dollar industry literally building our world from the ground up—welcome to the dynamic and ever-growing construction materials sector.
Key Takeaways
- The global construction materials market was valued at USD 1.05 trillion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 1.56 trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.1%.
- U.S. construction materials market revenue reached $147.5 billion in 2023, up 4.2% from 2022.
- Cement segment dominated the construction materials market with 35% share in 2023 globally.
- Worldwide cement production reached 4.1 billion metric tons in 2023.
- U.S. Portland cement production was 90 million metric tons in 2023.
- China produced 2.2 billion metric tons of cement in 2023, 52% of global total.
- Global average cement price was $120 per metric ton in Q4 2023.
- U.S. Portland cement average price $135/ton in 2023, up 8% from 2022.
- China cement price averaged CNY 450/ton in 2023, peaked at 550.
- Global cement industry CO2 emissions totaled 2.3 billion tons in 2023, 8% of total anthropogenic.
- U.S. cement plants reduced CO2 intensity by 15% from 2010-2023 via efficiency.
- 40% of construction materials waste recycled globally in 2023.
- Global construction materials industry employed 12 million direct workers in 2023.
- U.S. construction materials manufacturing jobs 650,000 in 2023.
- China construction materials sector 5 million employees 2023.
The global construction materials market is large and steadily growing worldwide.
Employment and Trade
- Global construction materials industry employed 12 million direct workers in 2023.
- U.S. construction materials manufacturing jobs 650,000 in 2023.
- China construction materials sector 5 million employees 2023.
- World steel trade for construction 400 million tons in 2023.
- India cement industry 1.2 million direct jobs 2023.
- EU construction materials trade €250 billion in 2023.
- U.S. cement exports 2.5 million tons in 2023.
- Global aggregates trade volume 300 million tons 2023.
- Brazil materials exports $15 billion in 2023.
- Russia construction materials employment 800,000 in 2023.
- Vietnam cement exports 30 million tons 2023.
- U.S. materials manufacturing trade surplus $20 billion 2023.
- Turkey cement exports 20 million tons 2023.
- Global gypsum trade 15 million tons 2023.
- Egypt construction materials jobs 400,000 2023.
- Saudi imports of steel $10 billion for construction 2023.
- Canada cement industry 12,000 employees 2023.
- Asphalt global trade 50 million tons 2023.
- South Africa materials exports ZAR 50 billion 2023.
- Precast concrete trade intra-EU €5 billion 2023.
- Thailand cement exports 8 million tons 2023.
- Global bricks trade 100 billion units 2023.
- Australia construction materials employment 250,000 2023.
- Mexico steel imports 20 million tons for construction 2023.
- Lime global exports 10 million tons 2023.
- UK construction products manufacturing 200,000 jobs 2023.
- Indonesia cement exports 1.5 million tons 2023.
- U.S. safety incident rate in materials mfg 1.8 per 100 workers 2023.
- Global trade in insulation materials $30 billion 2023.
Employment and Trade Interpretation
Behind these staggering global tons and billions lies a vast, interconnected, and surprisingly nimble human scaffolding of millions of workers who quite literally build the modern world, one heavy shipment and local job at a time.
Market Size and Growth
- The global construction materials market was valued at USD 1.05 trillion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 1.56 trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.1%.
- U.S. construction materials market revenue reached $147.5 billion in 2023, up 4.2% from 2022.
- Cement segment dominated the construction materials market with 35% share in 2023 globally.
- Asia-Pacific construction materials market grew at 6.8% CAGR from 2018-2023, largest regional share at 45%.
- Global aggregates market size was $42.3 billion in 2022, expected to hit $58.9 billion by 2030 at 4.2% CAGR.
- Steel for construction market valued at $287 billion in 2023, projected CAGR 5.5% to 2030.
- Europe construction materials market at €450 billion in 2022, growth slowed to 2.1% in 2023.
- Concrete admixtures market reached $14.6 billion in 2023, CAGR 5.9% forecast to 2030.
- Global ready-mix concrete market size $763 billion in 2022, growing to $1,112 billion by 2030 at 4.8% CAGR.
- U.S. cement market revenue $12.8 billion in 2023, 3.5% YoY growth.
- Precast concrete market global value $140 billion in 2023, CAGR 5.2% to 2030.
- Insulation materials market hit $68.5 billion in 2022, projected 5.7% CAGR.
- China construction materials output value RMB 8.5 trillion in 2023, up 5.3%.
- Global drywall market size $55.2 billion in 2023, 4.9% CAGR expected.
- Roofing materials market valued at $112 billion in 2022, to reach $168 billion by 2032 at 4.2% CAGR.
- India construction materials market $85 billion in 2023, CAGR 7.1% forecast.
- Asphalt market for construction $70.4 billion in 2023, growing at 4.5% CAGR.
- Global tiles market $150 billion in 2022, 5.3% CAGR to 2030.
- Brazil construction materials sector revenue BRL 250 billion in 2023, 3.8% growth.
- Glass for construction market $45 billion in 2023, CAGR 6.1%.
- Middle East construction materials market $120 billion in 2022, 4.7% CAGR.
- PVC pipes for construction $25.6 billion in 2023, 5.4% growth projected.
- Africa construction materials market $35 billion in 2023, CAGR 6.2%.
- Timber/building products market $280 billion globally in 2022, 4.1% CAGR.
- Aluminum for construction $95 billion in 2023, 5.0% YoY.
- Global bricks market $120 billion in 2023, growing 4.3% CAGR.
- UK construction materials turnover £40 billion in 2023, up 2.9%.
- Sand and gravel market $40 billion in 2022, 4.6% CAGR to 2030.
- Paints and coatings for construction $45 billion in 2023, 5.2% growth.
- Global construction chemicals market $55 billion in 2023, CAGR 5.8%.
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
While the global construction materials industry is building its way toward a $1.56 trillion skyline with the steady pace of poured cement, the real architectural drama is in the blueprints, where Asia-Pacific is adding floors the fastest and cement remains the unshakeable foundation of it all.
Price Fluctuations
- Global average cement price was $120 per metric ton in Q4 2023.
- U.S. Portland cement average price $135/ton in 2023, up 8% from 2022.
- China cement price averaged CNY 450/ton in 2023, peaked at 550.
- Global rebar steel price $650/ton average in 2023.
- India cement prices rose 12% YoY to INR 6,200/ton in 2023.
- U.S. ready-mix concrete $150/cubic yard average 2023.
- EU cement price €110/ton in 2023, up from €95 in 2022.
- Global aggregates price $15/ton average in 2023.
- Brazil cement $85/ton average 2023.
- Hot-rolled coil steel for construction $700/ton global avg 2023.
- Vietnam cement price VND 1.4 million/ton in 2023.
- U.S. sand price $12/ton for construction in 2023.
- Russia cement 5,500 RUB/ton avg 2023.
- Global gypsum board $250/1,000 sq ft in 2023.
- Turkey cement export price $55/ton FOB 2023.
- U.S. crushed stone $11.50/ton metric 2023.
- Egypt cement $70/ton domestic 2023.
- Global asphalt $500/ton avg 2023.
- Saudi cement SAR 250/ton 2023.
- Canada aggregates CAD 20/ton 2023.
- Concrete admixtures $2,500/ton global 2023.
- South Africa cement ZAR 1,200/ton 2023.
- U.S. precast concrete elements $200/cubic meter avg 2023.
- Thailand cement THB 2,000/ton 2023.
- Global clay bricks $0.50/unit avg 2023.
- Australia cement AUD 180/ton 2023.
- Mexico cement MXN 1,500/ton 2023.
- World lime $150/ton avg 2023.
Price Fluctuations Interpretation
The global construction materials market is a turbulent but telling seesaw, where a ton of cement in the U.S. costs more than a nice dinner out while in Brazil it barely covers the appetizer, proving that the foundation of modern civilization is built on wildly divergent local realities.
Production Volumes
- Worldwide cement production reached 4.1 billion metric tons in 2023.
- U.S. Portland cement production was 90 million metric tons in 2023.
- China produced 2.2 billion metric tons of cement in 2023, 52% of global total.
- Global crude steel production for construction hit 1.88 billion tons in 2023.
- India cement output 380 million tons in FY2023, up 10% YoY.
- U.S. aggregates production 2.1 billion metric tons in 2023.
- EU-27 cement production 166 million tons in 2022.
- Global ready-mix concrete production 5.2 billion cubic meters in 2023.
- Brazil cement production 52 million tons in 2023.
- World clinker production 4.0 billion tons in 2023.
- U.S. steel production for buildings 45 million tons in 2023.
- Vietnam cement output 98 million tons in 2023.
- Global sand production for construction 50 billion tons annually average 2020-2023.
- Russia cement production 58 million tons in 2023.
- U.S. ready-mix concrete 450 million cubic yards in 2023.
- Indonesia cement production 65 million tons in 2023.
- Global gypsum production 250 million tons in 2023.
- Turkey clinker production 75 million tons in 2023.
- U.S. crushed stone production 1.5 billion tons in 2023.
- Egypt cement output 55 million tons in 2023.
- Global concrete blocks production 3 billion cubic meters in 2023.
- Saudi Arabia cement production 38 million tons in 2023.
- Canada aggregates output 400 million tons in 2023.
- Global asphalt production 120 million tons for roads/construction in 2023.
- South Africa cement 13 million tons in 2023.
- U.S. precast concrete elements 120 million tons equivalent in 2023.
- Thailand cement production 32 million tons in 2023.
- Global bricks production 4.5 trillion units in 2023.
- Australia cement output 5.5 million tons in 2023.
- Mexico cement production 42 million tons in 2023.
- World lime production 420 million tons in 2023.
Production Volumes Interpretation
The planet is furiously over-clocking its own skeleton, with China alone acting as the world's primary cement supplier, India sprinting to catch up, and America meticulously perfecting its concrete and steel corset, all while we dig up enough sand annually to bury the Great Wall several times over.
Sustainability Metrics
- Global cement industry CO2 emissions totaled 2.3 billion tons in 2023, 8% of total anthropogenic.
- U.S. cement plants reduced CO2 intensity by 15% from 2010-2023 via efficiency.
- 40% of construction materials waste recycled globally in 2023.
- China cement sector carbon capture utilization reached 10 million tons CO2 in 2023.
- Global low-carbon concrete adoption grew 25% YoY in 2023.
- EU construction materials 30% recycled content average in 2023.
- Water usage in cement production averaged 100 liters/ton globally 2023.
- U.S. green building materials market share 12% of total in 2023.
- Global steel recycling rate in construction 85% in 2023.
- India cement plants 20% using alternative fuels in 2023, saving 5 million tons coal.
- Aggregates recycling rate 70% in Europe 2023.
- Global construction dust emissions reduced 18% industry-wide 2018-2023.
- Brazilian cement CO2 emissions per ton dropped to 0.55 tons in 2023.
- 25% of global gypsum from recycled content in 2023.
- Vietnam cement alternative raw materials use 15% in 2023.
- U.S. concrete recycling 140 million tons in 2023.
- Russia construction materials energy intensity down 12% 2020-2023.
- Global sustainable timber certification (FSC) covered 45% construction wood 2023.
- Turkey cement thermal substitution rate 35% in 2023.
- Insulation materials R-value efficiency improved 22% globally 2015-2023.
- Egypt green cement production 10% market share 2023.
- Saudi construction waste recycling 40% in 2023.
- Canada cement clinker factor reduced to 72% in 2023.
- Asphalt recycling hot-mix 25% average globally 2023.
- South Africa bricks energy use down 15% with new kilns 2023.
- Precast concrete water savings 30% vs site-mixed 2023.
- Thailand cement refuse-derived fuel 20% substitution 2023.
- Global bricks fly ash usage 30% in concrete bricks 2023.
- Australia recycled glass in concrete 5% average 2023.
- Mexico cement CO2 0.62 tons/ton cement 2023.
- Lime kilns 90% energy recovery rate global avg 2023.
Sustainability Metrics Interpretation
The concrete truth is that while our industry still carries the heavy footprint of being humanity's second-largest source of emissions, the global cement foundation is quietly being remixed with startling efficiency gains, widespread recycling, and promising low-carbon innovations, proving that even the most stubborn materials can learn new, greener tricks.
Sources & References
- Reference 1GRANDVIEWRESEARCHgrandviewresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 2STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 3MARKETSANDMARKETSmarketsandmarkets.comVisit source
- Reference 4MORDORINTELLIGENCEmordorintelligence.comVisit source
- Reference 5FORTUNEBUSINESSINSIGHTSfortunebusinessinsights.comVisit source
- Reference 6ALLIEDMARKETRESEARCHalliedmarketresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 7EUROSTATeurostat.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 8IBISWORLDibisworld.comVisit source
- Reference 9FUTUREMARKETINSIGHTSfuturemarketinsights.comVisit source
- Reference 10STATSstats.gov.cnVisit source
- Reference 11TRANSPARENCYMARKETRESEARCHtransparencymarketresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 12FACTMRfactmr.comVisit source
- Reference 13KENRESEARCHkenresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 14IBGEibge.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 15RESEARCHANDMARKETSresearchandmarkets.comVisit source
- Reference 16MEImei.eduVisit source
- Reference 17AFRICABUSINESSafricabusiness.comVisit source
- Reference 18WOODMARKETSPERSPECTIVEwoodmarketsperspective.comVisit source
- Reference 19ALUMINUMaluminum.orgVisit source
- Reference 20RESEARCHNESTERresearchnester.comVisit source
- Reference 21ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 22USGSusgs.govVisit source
- Reference 23COATINGSWORLDcoatingsworld.comVisit source
- Reference 24CEMENTcement.orgVisit source
- Reference 25CEce.cnVisit source
- Reference 26WORLDSTEELworldsteel.orgVisit source
- Reference 27CMAINDIAcmaindia.orgVisit source
- Reference 28CEMBUREAUcembureau.euVisit source
- Reference 29GLOBALCEMENTglobalcement.comVisit source
- Reference 30SNICsnic.org.brVisit source
- Reference 31AISTaist.orgVisit source
- Reference 32VIETNAMWORKSvietnamworks.comVisit source
- Reference 33UNEPunep.orgVisit source
- Reference 34NRMCAnrmca.orgVisit source
- Reference 35ASIANEMENTasianement.comVisit source
- Reference 36TURKCEMENTturkcement.orgVisit source
- Reference 37EGYPTCEMENTegyptcement.orgVisit source
- Reference 38CONCRETEconcrete.orgVisit source
- Reference 39SCRCscrc.gov.saVisit source
- Reference 40NRCANnrcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 41ASPHALTINSTITUTEasphaltinstitute.orgVisit source
- Reference 42ACSAacsa.co.zaVisit source
- Reference 43PCIpci.orgVisit source
- Reference 44TCAPtcap.or.thVisit source
- Reference 45BRICKINDUSTRYbrickindustry.orgVisit source
- Reference 46CEMENTAUSTRALIAcementaustralia.com.auVisit source
- Reference 47CANACEMcanacem.orgVisit source
- Reference 48INDEXMUNDIindexmundi.comVisit source
- Reference 49STEELINVESTsteelinvest.comVisit source
- Reference 50NDTVndtv.comVisit source
- Reference 51METALBULLETINmetalbulletin.comVisit source
- Reference 52VIETNAMCEMENTvietnamcement.orgVisit source
- Reference 53PUBSpubs.usgs.govVisit source
- Reference 54ASPHALTMAGAZINEasphaltmagazine.comVisit source
- Reference 55NATURAL-RESOURCESnatural-resources.canada.caVisit source
- Reference 56CHEMICALMARKETANALYTICSchemicalmarketanalytics.comVisit source
- Reference 57BRICKbrick.orgVisit source
- Reference 58CEMENTcement.org.auVisit source
- Reference 59CANACEMcanacem.org.mxVisit source
- Reference 60IEAiea.orgVisit source
- Reference 61EPAepa.govVisit source
- Reference 62ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 63WORLDCEMENTASSOCIATIONworldcementassociation.orgVisit source
- Reference 64USGBCusgbc.orgVisit source
- Reference 65EUROFEReurofer.euVisit source
- Reference 66WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 67EUROGYPSUMeurogypsum.orgVisit source
- Reference 68CONCRETERECYCLINGconcreterecycling.orgVisit source
- Reference 69FSCfsc.orgVisit source
- Reference 70SAUDIGREENINITIATIVEsaudigreeninitiative.orgVisit source
- Reference 71NATIONALASPHALTPAVEMENTnationalasphaltpavement.orgVisit source
- Reference 72FIB-INTERNATIONALfib-international.orgVisit source
- Reference 73CEMENTCONCRETEcementconcrete.org.auVisit source
- Reference 74EUCLIDeuclid.orgVisit source
- Reference 75ILOilo.orgVisit source
- Reference 76BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 77PORTLANDCEMENTportlandcement.orgVisit source
- Reference 78GLOBALAGGREGATESglobalaggregates.infoVisit source
- Reference 79MDICmdic.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 80ROSSTATrosstat.gov.ruVisit source
- Reference 81BEAbea.govVisit source
- Reference 82GLOBALGYPSUMglobalgypsum.comVisit source
- Reference 83CAPMAScapmas.gov.egVisit source
- Reference 84GASTATgastat.gov.saVisit source
- Reference 85CSAGROUPcsagroup.orgVisit source
- Reference 86GLOBALASPHALTTRADEglobalasphalttrade.comVisit source
- Reference 87THEDTICthedtic.gov.zaVisit source
- Reference 88FIP-FIBfip-fib.orgVisit source
- Reference 89WORLDBRICKSworldbricks.orgVisit source
- Reference 90ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 91CANACEROcanacero.org.mxVisit source
- Reference 92LIMElime.orgVisit source
- Reference 93INSULATIONTRADEinsulationtrade.orgVisit source