Skip to main content

Report highlights world demand for asphalt to grow

Global demand for asphalt is projected to expand 2.8%/year until 2019 and will reach 122.5 million tonnes. These gains will be driven by growth in China and other developing countries as they work to improve their transportation infrastructures. This report has been published by the US-based Freedonia Group.
December 4, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Global demand for asphalt is projected to expand 2.8%/year until 2019 and will reach 122.5 million tonnes. These gains will be driven by growth in China and other developing countries as they work to improve their transportation infrastructures. This report has been published by the US-based 2821 Freedonia Group.

The report also says that mature asphalt markets in higher income countries (many of which declined between 2009 and 2014) will recover steadily, though in most cases demand will not regain 2009 levels until after 2019. The study is entitled World Asphalt (Bitumen).

This shows that the Asia/Pacific region has overtaken North America as the largest regional market for asphalt and will continue to record the fastest advances through 2019, driven primarily by strong growth in China and India.  According to analyst Allison Blackburn, “China surpassed the US as the world’s leading asphalt consumer in 2012 and accounted for over one-fifth of the global market in 2014.” However, growth in China will decelerate from the rapid gains of the 2009-2014 period as the country shifts its focus to repairing and maintaining current roadways rather than expanding the road network.  Asphalt demand in India will benefit from the large public works projects necessary for the country’s continued economic development. Growth is also expected to be strong in other developing Asian countries where large public works projects are planned, although activity will be affected by political and financial issues.  

North America is a major asphalt consumer because of the need for maintenance on the massive regional network of roads and highways (nearly 90% of which is in the US). Asphalt demand in the US is forecast to rebound driven by stronger economic growth and increased construction activity, and demand in 2019 is expected to surpass the 2009 level.

Recovery in asphalt demand in Western Europe will be driven by increased expenditures on road maintenance and repair applications after years of very low spending on infrastructure improvements.  Many countries have road repair backlogs, which will bolster demand for asphalt. However, gains in asphalt demand will not match those in the US through 2019, and will not make up for the declines during the 2009-2014 period.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • India’s massive demand for bitumen
    March 9, 2016
    India to lead the pack in bitumen consumption - Partha Pratim Basistha reports from the Asian Bitumen Conference. In the emerging global bitumen market, demand is expected to reach 122 million tonnes by 2018. Increasing road construction activities in the fast growing markets of India and China will be the main growth drivers of the bitumen market in Asia. This was the message delivered at the 10th Asian Bitumen Conference held in New Delhi, India from 23rd-24th November 2015. The two-day event, organised b
  • A bridge of hope?
    July 18, 2012
    As Russia prepares for a major Asia Pacific conference in nearly four years' time, the economic climate is felt in other countries in the region. Patrick Smith reports AUS$1 billion-plus suspension bridge is to be built to link the city of Vladivostok in the far east of Russia and Russky Island. Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has signed an instruction for construction of the 3,150m long bridge, which is intended to provide access to the 24th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, to be held o
  • German firms see improving market share
    March 1, 2017
    In 2016, German manufacturers of construction equipment achieved a turnover of €9.3 billion, an increase of 3% compared to 2015. Of note though is that the same period, global sales of construction equipment declined by 1%. German companies managed to perform better than the world market and develop market share. In 2017, they expect another increase in sales by 3%.
  • China on road spending spree
    December 11, 2012
    Figures recently released indicate that construction spending in China will increase 8.8% each year in real terms through to 2016. Ongoing urbanisation and industrialisation; rebounding foreign investment funding; rising personal income levels and further population and household growth will all work to drive gains. However, further growth will be prevented by a slow-down in the Chinese economy through the forecast period, especially in fixed asset investment. These and other trends are presented in Constru