Global Demand for Construction Aggregates to Increase

Global demand for construction aggregates is expected to grow 4.7 percent per year through 2011 to 26.8 billion metric tons, according to a study by Cleveland-based market research firm, the Freedonia Group.

According to the study, growing environmental and land use concerns will spur above-average sales gains for aggregates composed of recycled materials like crushed hydraulic and asphaltic concrete and by-products like fly ash and blast-furnace slag.

Some of the strongest sales will be in India, according to the group’s findings, which is already one of the largest national markets, as well as the huge Chinese market. Smaller markets such as Indonesia, Thailand and a number of developing countries in Asia, and Iran will also record strong gains, spurred by industrialization activities and growth in infrastructure construction.

Advances will not be as strong in the developed areas of the world, including the U.S., Japan and Western Europe. Infrastructure repair and maintenance construction will drive demand in these areas through 2011, according to the study’s results. An increase in non-building construction projects in the U.S. will also contribute to overall aggregates market growth, despite a slowdown in residential building activity.

The full study “World Construction Aggregates” is available for purchase through the Freedonia Group at www.freedoniagroup.com.