The building materials market in France

The building materials market covers products for structural work (cement, concrete, sand, bricks, wood or glass panels, etc.) and finishing work (insulation, glass wool, mortar, clay tiles, ceilings, etc.).

Throughout the study, we will be looking at and distinguishing between the following product families:

raw wood

primary and secondary wood processing products

building materials (cement, sand, gravel, plaster, etc.)

The uses are varied and the demand sectors numerous: 89% of materials are destined for public works and building construction. It's a market that caters for two types of customer: professionals (building and civil engineering contractors or craftsmen) and private individuals.

According to the trade organization for the building materials and timber trade, the building materials market has been hit hard by the slowdown in the construction sector, with production declining in the last quarter of 2023.

The global building materials market is dominated by a handful of international giants, led by India's ArcelorMittal, the undisputed leader with sales of $68.28 billion, followed by France's Saint-Gobain($51.83 billion) and Cement Roadstone Holding($34.95 billion). on a national scale, players such as Vicat occupy a strategic position, generating sales of 1.211 billion euros in France in 2023, i.e. 31% of its worldwide activity, and posting solid performances in both commercial and environmental terms.

In 2024, construction investment will reach 291.7 billion euros, marking a stabilization after a strong post-health crisis growth phase that had taken the market to 294.0 billion euros in 2023. Business is driven byhome improvement and maintenance(80 billion euros, 38% of total expenditure), followed by new residential construction(48 billion euros, 23%) and non-residential new construction(42 billion euros, 20%), as well asnon-residential maintenance(38 billion euros, 18%). Among non-residential starts, industrial and storage buildings dominate with 7.66 million m², far ahead of agricultural(3.50 million m²) and administrativebuildings (3.49 million m²), while offices(2.47 million m²) and retail(2.41 million m²) reflect sustained demand for tertiary space.

In terms of trade, France remains strongly integrated into European trade, with 55% of imports of building materials and miscellaneous mineral products coming from Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium. Imports from China, though worth 456 million euros, account for only 8% of the total. on the export side,Germany stands out with 551 million euros, followed by Italy(9% of the total).

In terms of sector structure, the manufacture of building components remains dominated by concrete (23.61Z), accounting for 54.8% of establishments, followed by plastics (22.23Z) at 43.6%, while gypsum (23.62Z) accounts for just 1.6%. This breakdown highlights an industrial fabric concentrated on two main materials, with a more marginal but specialized gypsum segment.

The French building materials market is thus characterized by a diversified industrial structure, a solid foothold in European trade, and contrasting dynamics according to segment: sustained growth in maintenance and renovation, resilience in heavy industry, but a slowdown in certain new-build activities. These factors, combined with environmental challenges and raw material price trends, are shaping a compeon are shaping a competitive environment in which innovation and cost control are becoming key competitive levers.