Global Scans · Construction · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: 65 per cent of global construction growth for the next decade will happen in emerging markets. Smart cities, sustainable construction, greater urbanization and pre-fabricated buildings will all play their part in future construction growth.

• [New] Construction is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2025 and to run until the end of 2027. / Germany ILF.com
• [New] With a high proportion of tunnels, ongoing construction phases, and additional tunnels planned across international borders, a highly efficient and environmentally friendly infrastructure project for Europe is set to be completed by the end of the 2030s. ILF.com
• [New] Construction spending is expected to rebound in late 2026, and most contractors report rising backlog, which supports cautious optimism for the months ahead. / USA ABC Ohio Valley
• [New] The U.S. construction industry is projected to experience modest growth in 2026, with GDP growth expected at 2.2% nationally. ABC Ohio Valley
• [New] The Global Construction Perspectives project forecasts global construction output to grow by 42% to reach US$ 15.2 trillion by 2030, with emerging economies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America driving the majority of incremental demand. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Phelan Green Hydrogen has licensed technologies from Johnson Matthey for its planned eSAF facility in South Africa's Western Cape, where construction is expected to begin by the end of 2026. GreenAir News
• [New] ICEMA forecasts the construction equipment industry to triple in size by 2030. / India Persistence Market Research
• [New] Local Law 154 prohibits the use of fossil fuels in most new construction and will start applying to high-rise buildings in 2027. Yahoo News
• [New] The building, owned by Hudson Square Properties, combines geothermal energy with air-source heat pumps to meet its heating and cooling needs, exceeding New York City's 2030 climate targets and using 40% less energy than typical office buildings. Yahoo News
• [New] Gen 2.0 Project: Construction is underway for a Gen 2.0 Plant, expected online in mid 2026, which will increase production capacity to 10 tonnes per annum. / Australia Strategic Wave Trading
• [New] Most single-family homes in the United States are stick-built, Heid said, and techniques such as panelized and modular construction are far from realizing their full potential. HUD USER
• [New] The next 250 years will look different, starting with construction. / USA Gate House Strategies
• [New] The United States Coast Guard announced the finalization of two contracts for the construction and delivery of six Arctic Security Cutters, a brand-new class of polar icebreakers that will strengthen America's position in the Arctic. U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• [New] Starting with the AI data center currently under construction in Ulsan, SKT will build a cluster of over 2GW across the southeastern region, using it as a base to attract AI infrastructure demand from global big tech companies to Korea. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Further EU progress on pricing carbon emissions is expected via the introduction of ETS2, covering buildings, road transport and smaller industries, in 2028. European Central Bank
• [New] Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiatives have accelerated vertical construction across cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah, driving demand for both new elevator installations and lifecycle maintenance services. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The UK construction industry currently employs around 2.6 million people, yet industry forecasts suggest the workforce will need to grow to almost 2.7 million by 2030 to meet demand. O'Neill & Brennan
• [New] A global construction slowdown is threatening PVC demand in the second half of 2026, compounded by El Nino risks, persistent oversupply and high interest rates across key markets. Energynews.pro
• [New] Following a 2.7% contraction in 2025, US construction output is forecast to grow by around 1.1% in 2026 with an average annual growth of 2.1% through 2030. Yahoo! Finance
• [New] The NRC is expected to issue licensing decisions on SMR construction permits during 2026 - a genuine milestone in an industry where regulatory milestones have historically been rare and slow. JC Shepard(dot)com

Last updated: 15 July 2026