Building Blocks And Bricks Of Cement, Concrete Or Artificial Stone Market

The global market for building blocks and bricks made of cement, concrete, or artificial stone is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next eight years, with a projected market volume of 535M tons by 2030. China remains the largest consumer and producer in this market, while countries like India, the United States, Poland, and Israel are also experiencing notable growth. The average import price per ton increased by 22% in 2022, with significant differences among importing countries. Germany and the Netherlands are the major exporters, with the average export price per ton also showing significant growth. Overall, the market is forecasted to see gradual growth in the near future.

Market Forecast

Driven by increasing demand for building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone worldwide, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next eight-year period. Market performance is forecast to decelerate, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +1.7% for the period from 2022 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market volume to 535M tons by the end of 2030.

In value terms, the market is forecast to increase with an anticipated CAGR of +3.8% for the period from 2022 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market value to $146.8B (in nominal prices) by the end of 2030.

Consumption

World Consumption of Building Blocks And Bricks Of Cement, Concrete Or Artificial Stone

In 2022, approx. 469M tons of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone were consumed worldwide; waning by -1.6% on 2021 figures. The total consumption volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. Global consumption peaked at 477M tons in 2021, and then shrank slightly in the following year.

The revenue of the market for building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone worldwide shrank slightly to $108.5B in 2022, falling by -1.8% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). The market value increased at an average annual rate of +4.1% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. Global consumption peaked at $110.5B in 2021, and then declined in the following year.

Consumption By Country

China (94M tons) remains the largest building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone consuming country worldwide, comprising approx. 20% of total volume. Moreover, consumption of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone in China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest consumer, the United States (37M tons), threefold. India (37M tons) ranked third in terms of total consumption with a 7.9% share.

In China, consumption of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone expanded at an average annual rate of +3.7% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining consuming countries recorded the following average annual rates of consumption growth: the United States (+2.6% per year) and India (+3.2% per year).

In value terms, India ($24.9B), China ($19.6B) and the United States ($4.6B) constituted the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2022, together accounting for 45% of the global market. Brazil, Pakistan, Indonesia, Russia, Vietnam, the UK, Mexico, Germany, Poland and France lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 13%.

Poland, with a CAGR of +7.6%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to market size among the main consuming countries over the period under review, while stone for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

The countries with the highest levels of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone per capita consumption in 2022 were the UK (302 kg per person), Poland (221 kg per person) and France (141 kg per person).

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of stone, amongst the leading consuming countries, was attained by Germany (with a CAGR of +5.5%), while stone for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Production

World Production of Building Blocks And Bricks Of Cement, Concrete Or Artificial Stone

In 2022, the amount of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone produced worldwide fell slightly to 470M tons, which is down by -1.7% on 2021. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017 with an increase of 13% against the previous year. Global production peaked at 478M tons in 2021, and then fell slightly in the following year.

In value terms, production of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone dropped slightly to $108.8B in 2022 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, the total production indicated a moderate increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +4.3% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, production increased by +36.1% against 2014 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 18%. Over the period under review, global production of reached the maximum level at $111.2B in 2021, and then dropped in the following year.

Production By Country

China (94M tons) constituted the country with the largest volume of production of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone, comprising approx. 20% of total volume. Moreover, production of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone in China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, India (37M tons), threefold. The United States (37M tons) ranked third in terms of total production with a 7.9% share.

In China, production of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone expanded at an average annual rate of +3.7% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining producing countries recorded the following average annual rates of production growth: India (+3.2% per year) and the United States (+2.6% per year).

Imports

World Imports of Building Blocks And Bricks Of Cement, Concrete Or Artificial Stone

In 2022, after two years of growth, there was significant decline in supplies from abroad of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone, when their volume decreased by -21.5% to 5.1M tons. Overall, imports saw a slight reduction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2013 when imports increased by 7.6%. Global imports peaked at 6.6M tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, imports of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone fell modestly to $775M in 2022. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +1.9% from 2012 to 2022; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations in certain years. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 when imports increased by 17%. As a result, imports attained the peak of $811M, and then fell modestly in the following year.

Imports By Country

In 2022, the Netherlands (694K tons) and Belgium (497K tons) were the largest importers of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stonearound the world, together reaching near 23% of total imports. Denmark (313K tons) ranks next in terms of the total imports with a 6.1% share, followed by the United States (5%). France (197K tons), Hong Kong SAR (190K tons), Lithuania (185K tons), the UK (171K tons), Canada (147K tons), Slovakia (145K tons), Luxembourg (141K tons), Israel (133K tons) and Germany (127K tons) took a relatively small share of total imports.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for Israel (with a CAGR of +53.1%), while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone importing markets worldwide were the Netherlands ($102M), the United States ($53M) and the UK ($52M), together accounting for 27% of global imports. Denmark, France, Canada, Belgium, Israel, Slovakia, Germany, Luxembourg, Lithuania and Hong Kong SAR lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 34%.

In terms of the main importing countries, Israel, with a CAGR of +42.4%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices By Country

In 2022, the average import price for building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone amounted to $152 per ton, increasing by 22% against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +3.0%. As a result, import price reached the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was the UK ($304 per ton), while Hong Kong SAR ($54 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the Netherlands (+9.2%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports

World Exports of Building Blocks And Bricks Of Cement, Concrete Or Artificial Stone

In 2022, global exports of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone contracted remarkably to 5.6M tons, waning by -26.7% on the previous year. Overall, exports showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when exports increased by 29% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of 8.4M tons. From 2018 to 2022, the growth of the global exports of remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, exports of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone contracted slightly to $960M in 2022. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +3.0% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 31% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $1B, and then declined modestly in the following year.

Exports By Country

Germany (1.2M tons) and the Netherlands (0.8M tons) were the major exporters of building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone in 2022, finishing at near 22% and 14% of total exports, respectively. It was distantly followed by China (401K tons), Belgium (292K tons) and Turkey (270K tons), together making up a 17% share of total exports. Belarus (234K tons), Poland (229K tons), Canada (221K tons), Estonia (128K tons), Ireland (109K tons), Italy (100K tons), France (99K tons) and El Salvador (96K tons) took a relatively small share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the leading exporting countries, was attained by the Netherlands (with a CAGR of +8.2%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, China ($220M), Germany ($139M) and the Netherlands ($83M) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2022, together comprising 46% of global exports.

Among the main exporting countries, China, with a CAGR of +13.4%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices By Country

The average export price for building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone stood at $170 per ton in 2022, picking up by 30% against the previous year. In general, export price indicated moderate growth from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +4.0% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, export price for building blocks and bricks of cement, concrete or artificial stone increased by +102.9% against 2017 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 an increase of 34%. The global export price peaked in 2022 and is likely to see gradual growth in the near future.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was China ($549 per ton), while El Salvador ($34 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by China (+18.1%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform