The analyst expects the Chinese construction industry to record a growth of 3.2% in real terms in 2025, supported by investment in the infrastructure and energy sectors. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the construction industry’s value-add grew by 3.1% year on year (YoY) at the end of Q1 2025, preceded by YoY growth of 3.8% at the end of Q4 2024 and 4.1% at the end of Q3 2024. According to the State Taxation Administration, China launched 182 major projects in Q1 2025, requiring total investments of CNY340 billion ($47.4 billion). Indeed, this was driven by large-scale transport infrastructure and manufacturing plant developments. However, in the short to medium term, the sluggishness in the residential sector is expected to weigh on the overall construction output, owing to the prevalence of low housing demand and rising debt amongst property developers. Furthermore, the rising concern over a trade war between China and the US, with the US imposing of tariff on Chinese imports, is expected to further weigh on consumer and investment in the country. According to the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, the total Foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 27.1% YoY in 2024, reaching CNY826.3 billion ($115.3 billion).
The analyst expects the construction industry to record an average annual growth rate of 4.2% between 2026 and 2029. This will be supported by investment in transport infrastructure and industrial projects, coupled with the government’s plan to achieve net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2060. In line with this, in September 2024, the Shanghai local government announced the Shanghai Action Plan for Accelerating the Green and Low-carbon Transformation (2024-27). This plan aims to deploy solar capacity across Shanghai with a combined installed capacity of 4.5 million kW by 2027 and acceleratethe construction of offshore wind power plants. The government approved the construction of ten new nuclear reactors in April 2025, with construction expected to start in 2026 and grid connection anticipated by 2032. The total investment for these projects is estimated at CNY200 billion ($27.9 billion), averaging about CNY13.3 billion ($2.7 billion) per reactor. Additionally, growth within the construction industry will be supported by government investments as part of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) that focuses primarily on innovations, digitalization, the modernization of industrial systems, and low carbon emissions. The plan outlined the goal of the construction of 150 new reactors by 2035 with a total estimated investment of CNY3.1 trillion ($432.6 billion).
The analyst expects the construction industry to record an average annual growth rate of 4.2% between 2026 and 2029. This will be supported by investment in transport infrastructure and industrial projects, coupled with the government’s plan to achieve net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2060. In line with this, in September 2024, the Shanghai local government announced the Shanghai Action Plan for Accelerating the Green and Low-carbon Transformation (2024-27). This plan aims to deploy solar capacity across Shanghai with a combined installed capacity of 4.5 million kW by 2027 and acceleratethe construction of offshore wind power plants. The government approved the construction of ten new nuclear reactors in April 2025, with construction expected to start in 2026 and grid connection anticipated by 2032. The total investment for these projects is estimated at CNY200 billion ($27.9 billion), averaging about CNY13.3 billion ($2.7 billion) per reactor. Additionally, growth within the construction industry will be supported by government investments as part of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) that focuses primarily on innovations, digitalization, the modernization of industrial systems, and low carbon emissions. The plan outlined the goal of the construction of 150 new reactors by 2035 with a total estimated investment of CNY3.1 trillion ($432.6 billion).
The Construction in China - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2029 (Q2 2025) report provides detailed market analysis, information and insights into the Chinese construction industry, including:
- The Chinese construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activity
- Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, as well as an analysis of key risks and opportunities in the Chinese construction industry
- Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, focusing on development stages and participants, in addition to listings of major projects in the pipeline.
Scope
This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in China. It provides:
- Historical (2020-2024) and forecast (2025-2029) valuations of the construction industry in China, featuring details of key growth drivers.
- Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector
- Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline.
- Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants
Reasons to Buy
- Identify and evaluate market opportunities using our standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies
- Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts
- Understand the latest industry and market trends
- Formulate and validate business strategies using the analyst's critical and actionable insight
- Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures
- Evaluate competitive risk and success factors
Table of Contents
1 Executive Summary2 Construction Industry: At-a-Glance6 Construction Market Data
3 Context
4 Construction Outlook
5 Key Industry Participants
7 Appendix
List of Tables
List of Figures