PUBLISHER: IMARC | PRODUCT CODE: 1792515
PUBLISHER: IMARC | PRODUCT CODE: 1792515
The global prefabricated building and structural steel market size reached USD 248.0 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 396.6 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.08% during 2025-2033. The growing demand for modular construction, rapid urbanization, sustainability and green building practices, ongoing technological advancements, and the surging popularity of high-rise steel buildings are primarily driving the market's growth.
Rising Demand for Modular Construction
Modular construction, a subset of prefabrication, is gaining traction due to its ability to deliver high-quality, factory-built components that can be rapidly assembled on-site. For instance, according to IMARC, the global modular construction market size reached US$ 86.2 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 137.2 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% during 2024-2032. Structural steel is also frequently used in modular construction because of its durability, flexibility, and high strength-to-weight ratio. These factors are expected to propel the prefabricated building and structural steel market share in the coming years.
Shortage of Workforce in the Construction Industry
Many regions across the globe are facing skilled labor shortages in the construction industry. For instance, according to CNBC, the construction industry is approximately 650,000 workers short of what it requires to complete assignments on time. Similarly, according to Statista, in 2023, the average shortage ratio of skilled construction workers in Japan stood at 1.4%. Prefabrication reduces the dependence on skilled labor by shifting much of the work off-site, further encouraging the market growth. These factors further positively influence the prefabricated building and structural steel market forecast.
Surging Smart Cities Initiatives
The concept of smart cities is gaining traction worldwide, especially in urbanized regions. Moreover, the government of various economies are spending significantly on smart city initiatives. For instance, according to Statista, in fiscal year 2022, expenditure on the Smart City Mission in India was approximately INR 53 billion, and it is expected to exceed INR 68 billion in fiscal year 2023. Prefabricated buildings and structural steel frameworks are well-suited to meet these demands as they can be easily adapted to smart building technologies such as energy-efficient designs, renewable energy integration, and advanced construction methods, thereby boosting the prefabricated building and structural steel market revenue.
Floors and roofs dominate the prefabricated building market whereas H-type beams currently exhibit the largest share of structural steel market
According to the prefabricated building and structural steel market outlook, floors and roofs are often designed in standardized modules that can be easily prefabricated off-site and assembled on-site, making the process faster and more efficient compared to traditional construction methods. Moreover, prefabricated floors and roofs provide structural stability and can be customized to fit different building designs, whether for residential, commercial, or industrial projects. Furthermore, H-type beams are designed with wide flanges, which distribute loads more evenly across the structure. This gives them a higher load-bearing capacity compared to other steel beams like I-beams, making them ideal for applications where heavy loads are involved, such as high-rise buildings, bridges, and industrial structures.
According to the prefabricated building and structural steel market overview, with increasing urbanization, particularly in emerging markets, there is a growing demand for affordable housing. Prefabricated buildings offer a solution by providing cost-effective and quick construction methods, further driving the demand in the residential sector. Moreover, prefabricated buildings are commonly used in the construction of classrooms, administrative buildings, and student housing for schools and universities. Prefabrication offers the ability to quickly assemble temporary or permanent structures, particularly in remote locations or in response to rapid population growth. Besides this, structural steel is the dominant material used in the construction of commercial high-rise office towers due to its ability to support tall structures with minimal columns.
Asia Pacific currently dominates the global market
The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. According to the report, Asia Pacific currently dominates the global market.
According to the prefabricated building and structural steel market statistics, the Asia-Pacific region is undergoing rapid urbanization as populations move to cities in search of better economic opportunities. This has created a substantial demand for housing, commercial buildings, and infrastructure, which are being built using prefabricated construction and structural steel for faster delivery. Moreover, the region's growing middle class is driving demand for residential developments in urban areas, where prefabrication helps meet the need for mass housing projects more efficiently. Besides this, many governments in Asia-Pacific are making large-scale investments in infrastructure and smart city projects to boost economic development. For instance, in August 2024, India's Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), approved 12 additional smart city projects under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), totaling INR 286.02 billion (US$3.41 billion).
The market research report has provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Detailed profiles of all major market companies have also been provided.