China Construction Market Size, Trend Analysis by Sector, Competitive Landscape and Forecast to 2030 (Q1 2026)

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The Chinese construction industry is expected to contract by 1% in real terms in 2026, owing to decline in the value of contracts signed by construction enterprises and fixed asset investments in the construction industry. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS), the total value of new contracts signed by construction enterprises fell by 10.5% year-on-year (YoY) in Q4 2025, preceded by YoY decline of 0.7% in Q3 and 10% in Q2 2025. Furthermore, the ongoing decline in the residential construction sector, which has been on a downward trend since 2020 owing to decrease in residential permits issued and investment in real estate sector, is hindering the construction industry's output. According to the NBS, the total floor space of residential buildings on which construction started declined by 19.9% YoY in 2025, whereas investment in real estate development fell by 16.5% YoY during the same period.

However, over the remainder of the forecast period, the Chinese construction industry is expected to rebound and register an average annual growth of 4% from 2027 to 2030, supported by public and private sector investments in transport infrastructure, renewable energy and industrial projects. In late December 2025, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) approved approximately CNY295 billion ($41.3 billion) for the development of country’s 281 major infrastructure projects. This investment is a part of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–30), which is scheduled to be finalized in March 2026. To stimulate the growth in private and technology-oriented firms, in January 2026, People’s Bank of China (PBOC) announced an investment of CNY900 billion ($126 billion). This initiative is part of a broader monetary easing strategy to bolster economic growth in the upcoming years. Growth over the forecast period also be driven by country’s aim of expanding 60,000km of high-speed rail network by 2030, with further expansion of 70,000km by 2035, from around 48,000km in 2024. Additionally, the country plans to expand its total railway network from an estimated 162,000km in 2024 to 200,000km by 2035. In line with this, the government plans to spend approximately CNY300 billion ($42 billion) on transportation infrastructure projects, along with water and energy projects by 2030. This investment is a part of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). Moreover, to drive investments in the manufacturing industry and achieve self-sufficiency in low-carbon hydrogen, in late December 2025, National Energy Administration of China (NEA) approved 41 clean-hydrogen pilot projects, which will be eligible for significant state support in the form of preferential loans and subsidies.

GlobalData’s Construction in China – Key Trends and Opportunities to 2030 (Q1 2026) report provides detailed market analysis, information, and insights into the Chinese construction industry, including –
• The Chinese construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activity
• Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, as well as an analysis of key risks and opportunities in the Chinese construction industry
• Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, focusing on development stages and participants, in addition to listings of major projects in the pipeline.

Scope

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in China. It provides –

• Historical (2021–2025) and forecast (2026–2030) valuations of the construction industry in China, featuring details of key growth drivers.

• Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector

• Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline.

• Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants

Reasons to Buy

Identify and evaluate market opportunities using our standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies

Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts

Understand the latest industry and market trends

Formulate and validate business strategies using GlobalData's critical and actionable insight

Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures

Evaluate competitive risk and success factors

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

2 Construction Industry: At-a-Glance

3 Context

3.1 Economic Performance

3.2 Political Environment and Policy

3.3 Demographics

3.4 Risk Profile

4 Construction Outlook

4.1 All Construction

– Outlook

– Latest news and developments

– Construction Projects Momentum Index

4.2 Commercial Construction

– Outlook

– Project analytics

– Latest news and developments

4.3 Industrial Construction

– Outlook

– Project analytics

– Latest news and developments

4.4 Infrastructure Construction

– Outlook

– Project analytics

– Latest news and developments

4.5 Energy and Utilities Construction

– Outlook

– Project analytics

– Latest news and developments

4.6 Institutional Construction

– Outlook

– Project analytics

– Latest news and developments

4.7 Residential Construction

– Outlook

– Project analytics

– Latest news and developments

5 Key Industry Participants

5.1 Contractors

5.2 Consultants

6 Construction Market Data

7 Appendix

7.1 What is this Report About?

7.2 Definitions

7.3 CRI Methodology

About GlobalData

Contact Us

Table

Table 1: Construction Industry Key Data

Table 2: China, Key Economic Indicators

Table 3: China, Gross Output of Construction, CNY Billion

Table 4: China, Commercial Construction Output by Project Type (Real % Change), 2021–30

Table 5: China, Top Commercial Construction Projects by Value

Table 6: China, Industrial Construction Output by Project Type (Real % Change), 2021–30

Table 7: China, Top Industrial Construction Projects by Value

Table 8: China, Infrastructure Construction Output by Project Type (Real % Change), 2021–30

Table 9: China, Top Infrastructure Construction Projects by Value

Table 10: China, Energy and Utilities Construction Output by Project Type (Real % Change), 2021–30

Table 11: China, Top Energy and Utilities Construction Projects by Value

Table 12: China, Institutional Construction Output by Project Type (Real % Change), 2021–30

Table 13: China, Top Institutional Construction Projects by Value

Table 14: China, Residential Construction Output by Project Type (Real % Change), 2021–30

Table 15: China, Top Residential Construction Projects by Value

Table 16: China, Key Contractors

Table 17: China, Key Consultants

Table 18: China Construction Output Value (Real, $ Billion)

Table 19: China Construction Output Value (Nominal, CNY Billion)

Table 20: GlobalData Construction Market Definitions

Table 21: GlobalData Construction Market Definitions

Table 22: Ratings, Scores and Definitions

Figures

Figure 1: North-East Asia, Construction Output (Real % Change), 2024–30

Figure 2: China, Construction Output by Sector (Real % Change), 2024–26 and 2027–30

Figure 3: China, Risk Summary

Figure 4: China, Risk Regional Comparison

Figure 5: China, Construction Output Value (Real, $ Million, 2022 Prices and Exchange Rate), 2021–30

Figure 6: China, Construction Output Value, by Sector (Real, $ Million), 2021–30

Figure 7: China, Construction Output (Nominal, CNY Million)

Figure 8: China, Construction Value-Add, % Change YoY

Figure 9: China, Total Value of Buildings Completed by Construction Enterprises (CNY Billion)

Figure 10: China, Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), Seasonally Adjusted

Figure 11: China, Investment in Fixed Assets in the Construction Industry, (Accumulated % Change, YoY)

Figure 12: China, Total Value of New Contracts Signed by Construction Enterprises, (CYN Trillion)

Figure 13: China, Investment in Real Estate Development, (Accumulated % Change, YoY)

Figure 14: China, Purchasing Price Index for Building Materials

Figure 15: China, Construction Projects Momentum Index

Figure 16: North-East Asia, Construction Projects Momentum Index

Figure 17: China, Commercial Construction Output by Project Type (Real, $ Million), 2021–30

Figure 18: China, Commercial Construction Projects Pipeline, Value by Stage ($ Million)

Figure 19: China, Total Floor Space of Commercial Buildings Under Construction, in Million m2 (Accumulated)

Figure 20: China, Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods, Current Prices, (Accumulated, CNY Billion)

Figure 21: China, Investment in Commercial Real Estate Development (CNY Billion)

Figure 22: China, Floor Space of Office Buildings Under Construction (Accumulated, % Change YoY)

Figure 23: China, Investment in Office Buildings (CNY Billion)

Figure 24: China, Industrial Construction Output by Project Type (Real, $ Million), 2021–30

Figure 25: China, Industrial Construction Projects Pipeline, Value by Stage ($ Million)

Figure 26: China, Industrial and Manufacturing Value-Add, % Change, YoY

Figure 27: China, Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index, Seasonally Adjusted

Figure 28: China, Total Exports ($ billion)

Figure 29: China, Infrastructure Construction Output by Project Type (Real, $ Million), 2021–30

Figure 30: China, Infrastructure Construction Projects Pipeline, Value by Stage ($ Million)

Figure 31: China, Fixed Asset Investment in The Transport Sector (Accumulated % Change, YoY)

Figure 32: China, Energy and Utilities Construction Output by Project Type (Real, $ Million), 2021–30

Figure 33: China, Energy and Utilities Construction Projects Pipeline, Value by Stage ($ Million)

Figure 34: China, Electricity Generation, in TWh

Figure 35: China, Institutional Construction Output by Project Type (Real, $ Million), 2021–30

Figure 36: China, Institutional Construction Projects Pipeline, Value by Stage ($ Million)

Figure 37: China, Total Value of Buildings Completed for Scientific Research, Education, and Medical Use (Accumulated, CNY Billion)

Figure 38: China, Residential Construction Output by Project Type (Real, $ Million), 2021–30

Figure 39: China, Residential Construction Projects Pipeline, Value by Stage ($ Million)

Figure 40: China, Total Floor Space of Residential Area Under Construction and Total Floor Space of Residential Builds Started this Year (Accumulated % Change, YoY)

Figure 41: China, Total Nominal Value of Residential Buildings Sold (CNY Trillion)

Figure 42: China, Investment in Residential Real Estate Development (CNY Billion)

Figure 43: China, Headquarters of Key Contractors (% of Total Project Pipeline)

Figure 44: China, Headquarters of Key Consultants (% of Total Project Pipeline)

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