Steel Structure Market Analysis and Development Prospects
Market Analysis
China’s steel‑structure construction sector got off to an early start, with its industry standards and codes steadily improving. A sizable pool of skilled professionals—covering design, installation, and construction—has emerged, and several leading firms have begun taking on overseas projects. According to the “2015–2020 China Steel Structure Industry Market Demand Forecast and Investment Strategy Planning Analysis Report” released by the Qianzhan Industry Research Institute, since 2000 the Chinese steel‑structure industry has entered a phase of rapid growth. Steel‑structure output surged from 8.5 million tons in 2002 to 35 million tons in 2011, posting an average annual compound growth rate exceeding 15%; in 2012, production reached approximately 39 million tons.
In China, spatial steel structures are widely used and account for a significant share of steel‑structure applications, primarily in large urban public buildings such as sports venues, theaters, airports, and railway stations. By 2012, the market size for spatial steel structures had reached over RMB 43 billion.
Steel‑structure buildings offer advantages such as seismic resistance, light weight, and reduced environmental impact, aligning with the goals of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in construction. In developed countries like the United States and Japan, steel‑structured buildings account for more than 40% of total floor space, whereas in China this share stands at only around 5%. Consequently, the widespread adoption of steel‑structure construction will significantly expand demand in the steel‑structure industry, with substantial room for growth within the domestic market.
Development prospects
Steel Structure Development: Three Key Areas Should Be Prioritized
Based on the current state of industry development, Liu Jun believes that the growth of three sectors—offshore oil‑field engineering equipment, steel‑structure housing, and steel‑structure bridges—deserves the attention of relevant national authorities. With adequate policy support and prioritization, these industries could readily achieve the goal of doubling in size.
Liu Jun pointed out that offshore oil production is expected to reach 100 million tons by 2015, and marine engineering equipment companies aim to supply a substantial array of equipment for deep-sea extraction at depths of 1,500 to 3,000 meters, necessitating significant improvements in both industry standards and scale. Steel‑structure housing aligns with green environmental protection, energy conservation, emission reduction, and circular economy policies, and its industrialized, standardized steel‑structure products offer vast and limitless market potential. Currently, among the nation’s 590,000 highway bridges, steel‑structure bridges account for less than 1%; meanwhile, the railway sector is expanding rapidly, with new lines increasingly replacing roadways with bridges—80% of these being prestressed reinforced concrete bridges. By contrast, steel‑structure bridges comprise 41% of Japan’s bridge inventory and 33% in the United States, highlighting that China’s market demand and industrial development in this field still lag considerably behind those of developed countries.
Over the past decade or so, China’s steel‑structure industry has grown rapidly, becoming the world’s largest user of steel structures, with the strongest manufacturing and construction capabilities, the largest industrial scale, and the largest enterprise base.
Steel Structure Enterprises: Must Attach Great Importance to Development During the 12th Five-Year Plan Period
Liu Jun pointed out that the successful construction of major steel‑structure projects across the country demonstrates that China’s overall technical level in steel structures has reached an internationally advanced standard. However, compared with developed nations, China’s steel‑structure industry still lags behind in areas such as information technology, automation, standardization, and scientific research and innovation. 2011 marked the beginning of the national “12th Five-Year Plan,” during which relevant state ministries, industry associations, enterprise groups, and steel‑structure companies have been conducting surveys and analyzing market conditions and future development trends. The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Science and Technology are also formulating strategies for identifying and setting targets for emerging strategic industries. Industries that possess internationally advanced capabilities, strong independent innovation capacity, robust international competitiveness, and the potential to capture larger market shares will be included in these plans and receive supportive policies. While opportunities coexist with challenges, whether China’s steel‑structure industry can achieve a qualitative leap and scale up hinges critically on its performance during the “12th Five-Year Plan” period.
Liu Jun stated that, following thorough research and after soliciting the views and recommendations of relevant experts, the China Steel Structure Association has drafted the “Strategic Reflections and Proposed Recommendations on the Steel Structure Industry within the National 12th Five-Year Plan.” Following further consultation with stakeholders, the Association will convene a panel of experts to implement and refine the draft, thereby fostering greater growth in the steel structure sector during the 12th Five-Year Plan period.
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