The steel construction market - Italy (2023)

1.1 Definition and scope of the study

Steel buildings are buildings whose supporting structure is made of steel products (e.g., beams, rebar). Since the mid-19th century, steel has become an important building material. Due to its high strength qualities in relation to the section used, it has established itself as an alternative material to wood and iron in many construction applications.

Globally, the market for steel structures (mainly used in construction) is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2021 and reach $226 billion in 2030. The nonresidential construction segment holds the highest share at 52%.

Italy saw a 21.5 percent decrease in 2020 revenues for steelmaking compared to 2018, when the sector reached its highest revenue peak. On the other hand, also in 2020, revenues from the manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures contracted by 11.2 percent compared to 2019. Both sectors are strategic for the Italian economy, and the trade balance for structures and parts of structures is in surplus in 2022. Finally, companies in these two sectors are mainly concentrated in northern Italy with 8,402 companies, mainly in Lombardy and Veneto.

The sustainable aspect and the research of technologies and new methods of metal processing are the mainstay of the steel industry making the growth of steel construction possible, especially considering that the application segments of this production are constantly expanding. The most important Italian companies by turnover in 2021 operating in the world are: Acciaierie d'Italia in steelmaking, Marcegaglia, Cimolai and others.