Construction recovery, especially in residential building, is expected to drive a nearly 12 percent annual increase in brick and block demand from a weak 2009 base to 12.4 billion units–valued at $8 billion–in 2014
Source: Freedonia Group, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio
Construction recovery, especially in residential building, is expected to drive a nearly 12 percent annual increase in brick and block demand from a weak 2009 base to 12.4 billion units–valued at $8 billion–in 2014. Specifically, Freedonia’s new Brick & Block study cites a 6.9 percent annual increase in concrete brick and block demand to 4.3 billion units in 2014, plus a 15 percent advance in annual clay-brick consumption during the same period to 8.2 billion units.
Though demand will remain concentrated in nonresidential markets, Freedonia indicates, the most significant growth will be spurred by recovery in the housing market–a boon for concrete brick and pavers used in siding, paving and landscaping applications. Slower gains will occur in structural and decorative concrete block products, since they are more heavily reliant on nonresidential construction. While average prices for each product group will rise through 2014, the study forecasts, those increases will be less dramatic than in the previous period. The 245-page Brick & Block can be ordered by contacting Corinne Gangloff, tel.: 440/684.9600; fax: 440.646.0484; e-mail: [email protected], or visiting www.freedoniagroup.com.