Global Scans · Construction · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: 65 per cent of global construction growth for the next decade will happen in emerging markets. Smart cities, sustainable construction, greater urbanization and pre-fabricated buildings will all play their part in future construction growth.

• [New] Meta has 27 data centers operational or under construction in the US and plans to spend between $115 billion and $135 billion on infrastructure in 2026. Semiconductors Insight
• [New] U.S. steel demand is forecast to grow about 1.8% in 2026, driven by pent-up residential construction demand and infrastructure spending. Ram Steelco
• [New] Commonwealth Fusion Systems plans to begin construction on its first commercial plant in 2027 or 2028. The ClimateTech Memos
• [New] Arizona's rising infrastructure demand, combined with new funding, is creating real opportunities for construction firms. ConstructConnect
• [New] Water and sewage treatment construction starts will grow an additional 11% in 2027 to keep pace with the state's expanding industrial and demographic needs. ConstructConnect
• [New] UK residential exposure should increasingly be viewed through a climate-risk lens, and portfolio construction should explicitly consider geographic concentration and risk-type exposure. Kalkine
• [New] Electric construction equipment markets are projected to reach US$ 18 billion by the early 2030s, with CAGRs around 13% as excavators, loaders, dozers, and cranes shift to battery-electric or hybrid architectures. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The U.S. faces a projected 9-18 GW electricity shortfall by 2027 driven entirely by AI data center construction, prompting major tech companies to pursue off-grid nuclear and gas power strategies. Kersai
• [New] LA 2028 Olympics venue construction, ongoing wildfire recovery and community hardening projects, and California's intensifying housing shortage create unprecedented demand for skilled American workers. ABC Southern California
• [New] Chile's construction industry presents growth opportunities driven by deregulation, infrastructure, and mining investments. Yahoo Finance
• [New] By 2040, residual emissions in demand sectors are reduced to 13% (industry), 27% (buildings), and 22% (transport, excluding international bunkers) relative to 1990 levels. Nature
• [New] Almost 4.4 million people in New York City and over 215,000 buildings could face extreme flood damage. Live Science
• [New] Local projects eligible for funding could include the development and transformation of underused buildings and green spaces, as well as neighbourhood hubs in UK communities. Third SectorMainNet
• [New] AI-driven demand will trigger a new cycle of DRAM fabrication investment exceeding $100 billion. Tech Insider
• [New] Modular construction involves prefabricating building components off-site for faster, more efficient on-site assembly and is expected to see significant growth in 2026. ABC Central Texas
• [New] In 2026, the construction industry is projected to experience cautious, uneven, and low single-digit growth, driven by AI-powered data center expansion, manufacturing, and public infrastructure projects. ABC Central Texas
• [New] The construction industry in Argentina is expected to expand by 5.5% in real terms in 2026, supported by an increase in building permits issued, coupled with investments in the transport infrastructure projects. Yahoo Finance

Last updated: 29 April 2026