The ready-mix concrete market - Italy

1.1 Definition and presentation

Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world, in part because of its durability, efficiency, and creative possibilities. Concrete is used in the construction of engineering structures, infrastructure, and, more generally, in the construction of residential and nonresidential buildings.

Ready-mixed concrete (GHP) is a concrete derivative, which is made of sand, gravel, cement, water, and admixtures. GHP is prepared in plants and then transported to construction sites, where it must be used within 2 hours of its manufacture. For this reason, it is usually produced in plants that are less than 20 km from the place of delivery.

The ready-mix concrete market is expected to grow from $844 billion in 2022 to $1118 billion by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2022 to 2028.

In Italy, the concrete market is also recovering after overcoming a time of slight decline in demand and production. Along with Germany and France, Italy is considered one of the leading markets for concrete in Europe.

One trend that has increased demand for ready-mixed concrete is the rise in the construction of green building structures.

One issue with concrete is that over time it can undergo a deterioration process. To cope with this problem, innovative solutions have been thought of in recent years, such as the creation of a self-repairing concrete with high durability, therefore more durable than products already on the market. What makes concrete more durable is the use of cementitious materials that are durable and react better to weathering and need less routine and extraordinary repair work.

Data above shows that the market is in a growth phase that follows a phase of slight decline therefore to penetrate it it is necessary to find innovative solutions to what are the major problems such as for example durability of materials.