Global demand for construction chemicals will grow rapidly

IHS Chemical latest analysis report said that in 2016 the global demand for construction chemicals market reached 11 million tons, the market value of up to 34 billion US dollars. Of which the Chinese market accounted for the highest, 34%; followed by Western Europe, 21%; again in North America, 15%. The report predicts that from 2016 to 2021, the global demand for construction chemicals will grow at an average annual rate of 4.3%. By 2021, global demand for construction chemicals will reach 13.6 million tonnes. IHS Chemical said that from 2006 to 2016, China’s construction industry investment growth, the average annual growth rate of 11%; 2016 ~ 2021, China’s construction industry investment growth will slow to an average of 4% to 5%.

Demand for global construction chemicals will grow rapidly

Building chemicals include: concrete admixtures, asphalt additives, adhesives and sealants, special coatings and thermal insulation materials, mainly used to improve the performance of building materials or construction reliability. The main trends affecting construction chemicals include: globalization; increased population and improved living standards corresponding to increased demand for construction, especially in developing economies; further integration of the industry, especially in developed regions such as North America and Western Europe; increased demand for cement additives, To meet the ever-increasing structural performance challenges.

The need to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is driving the development of the construction industry. According to the International Federation of Chemical Industry Associations (ICCA) data show that the energy consumption in the construction sector accounts for nearly one-third of the world’s energy consumption. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) statistics show that greenhouse gas emissions in the construction sector account for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and about 1 ton of carbon dioxide is produced into the atmosphere per ton of 1 ton of cement. According to the forecast, by 2050, the construction industry’s energy use will increase by more than 62%, carbon dioxide emissions will increase by more than 87%.

IHS Chemical said that in recent years, the construction industry, the rapid growth of chemical use, even in North America, Western Europe and Japan and other developed regions and countries as well. Concrete admixtures are increasingly used to produce super concrete to meet the needs of higher buildings. According to the latest statistics, in the construction chemicals market, the largest share of concrete admixtures, 37%, 2016 market value of 12.5 billion US dollars; followed by adhesives and sealants, the market value of 10.1 billion US dollars, the market share of 30%.

IHS Chemical said that the demand for concrete admixtures has increased significantly over the past few decades, with total demand in the global market reaching 16.6 million tonnes in 2016 and the demand for emerging economies is growing rapidly. The world’s major producers of concrete admixtures, including BASF and Sika, have increased production in Thailand and other production bases, and recently have increased capacity in Kenya, Russia and Vietnam. “Russia is a very attractive market and it is expected that the growth rate of the Russian construction industry will exceed the global average growth rate in the next few years,” said Tilman, head of BASF’s construction chemicals business.

The importance of concrete admixtures can be fully demonstrated from the construction of the San Gothen Basilica tunnel connecting Zurich and Milan through the Swiss Alps. The tunnel uses about 4 million tons of concrete, and pouring or spraying of concrete during construction is often difficult, which is challenging for companies that offer construction concrete admixtures for BASF and Sika.

BASF Germany, Austria and Switzerland underground construction business leader Boli Geer said that underground construction of the concrete requirements are high, when entering the mountain transport, the concrete must be kept for several hours can not be cured; but when the need to spray concrete to the tunnel wall , And must be fixed immediately. This is the biggest challenge in the construction of the Gotthard Baseline Tunnel.