Skip to main content

World asphalt demand to grow 3.6% a year until 2017

World demand for asphalt will grow by 3.6% annually until 2017, according to Cleveland market research company The Freedonia Group. This follows a decline in demand between 2007 and 2012 in North America and Western Europe, during the global economic crisis. “Gains will be driven by especially strong growth in consumption in China and other developing countries as they work to improve their transportation infrastructures,” said Freedonia analyst Mariel Behnke.
March 4, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
World demand for asphalt will grow by 3.6% annually until 2017, according to Cleveland market research company The 2821 Freedonia Group. This follows a decline in demand between 2007 and 2012 in North America and Western Europe, during the global economic crisis.

“Gains will be driven by especially strong growth in consumption in China and other developing countries as they work to improve their transportation infrastructures,” said Freedonia analyst Mariel Behnke.

Asphalt demand in North America declined by 5.8% a year between 2007 and 2012. From 2012 to 2017, Freedonia forecasts annual growth of 3.6%. Asia-Pacific continued to grow between 2012 and 2017, with a 5.8% annual growth, a rate which is forecast to slow to 4.7% up to 2017.

Maintenance of North America’s massive regional network of roads and highways will drive demand in that region. And in many parts of Western Europe there is a huge backlog of maintenance work to tackle.

The Asia-Pacific region has overtaken North America as the world’s largest market for asphalt, driven mainly by China and India, according to Freedonia’s report ‘World Asphalt’ which was published as Conexpo got underway. China uses over 20% of the world’s asphalt, and is set to become the world’s biggest asphalt user by 17%, a position currently occupied by the US.

Though China is still building roads now, growth will slow as its national infrastructure programmes come to an end and the country moves to smaller road construction jobs and maintenance of its existing networks. Demand in India and other developing Asian countries will grow, predicted Freedonia, as they push on with large public works projects.
%$Linker: 2 Asset <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 2 43686 0 oLinkExternal www.freedoniagroup.com Visit Freedonia Group Website false /EasySiteWeb/GatewayLink.aspx?alId=43686 false false%>

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • A future UK government should focus more on potholes and road safety
    April 10, 2015
    With a national UK election looming next month, a future government must make road safety a top priority, said the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Half of motorists in a recent survey of 2,156 people, and conducted IAM in March, said the current administration has not given the issue as much attention as is needed. The number one issue that the government should be focussing on, according to 70% of respondents, is the reduction of the number of potholes. The backlog of repairs now tops more
  • Saving lives, funding roads the focus of IRF – RA Regional Conference in Sydney in May
    April 8, 2015
    Road safety, funding and financing will be among the key issues on the table at the inaugural IRF - Roads Australia Regional Conference for Asia and Australasia, to be held in Sydney from May 4th - 6th, 2015. The Conference coincides with UN Global Road Safety Week, with safer roads, worksites and driver behaviour being a central focus of discussions. Speakers from across the Asia Pacific are expected to share learnings and experiences in tackling regional road safety and the challenges and opportunities fo
  • Investing in corridors for shared prosperity
    February 27, 2015
    A major IRF regional congress is being held in Europe & Central Asia. The IRF’s global volunteer leadership invites those interested to take part in the 1st IRF Regional Congress in Europe & Central Asia held in Istanbul, on September 15-18, 2015. The European & Central Asia region is a geographic area covering 23 countries with a shared history of relatively recent transition from planned to market economies, and the profound impact this has had on trading patterns, transport services and infrastructure ne
  • Investing in corridors for shared prosperity
    February 27, 2015
    A major IRF regional congress is being held in Europe & Central Asia. The IRF’s global volunteer leadership invites those interested to take part in the 1st IRF Regional Congress in Europe & Central Asia held in Istanbul, on September 15-18, 2015. The European & Central Asia region is a geographic area covering 23 countries with a shared history of relatively recent transition from planned to market economies, and the profound impact this has had on trading patterns, transport services and infrastructure ne