Ultra-High Performance Concrete Market Size To Reach $1.9 Billion By 2025

Ultra-high performance concrete is an advanced cementitious material, which is expected to have the potential to be a viable solution for improving the sustainability of architecture. The product, when used for construction applications, enables the elimination of reinforcing steel. 

Excellent durability of UHPC results in an increase in the longevity of structures and a reduction in the overall maintenance costs. It possesses ceramic properties such as impermeability to water, heat resistant, and surface behaviors making it ideal for usage in high strength applications. Such factors are expected to propel the market growth over the forecast period.

The U.S. market was valued at USD 356.1 million in 2016. Factors, such as awareness regarding the advantages of UHPC combined with high standards of safety, are expected to benefit the U.S. market demand. The material is used in a wide variety of infrastructural applications including highways, roads, and bridges as UHPC provides enhanced durability properties, thus resulting in extended life of the structure. 

Ultra-high performance concrete provides opportunities in repairing work as well. It is widely used for developing solutions for fixing and replacement of roads, bridges, and other constructions. Ongoing research and development activities have been successful in demonstrating the advantages of the material in repair and rehabilitation applications, thus paving the way for the application.

Reactive powder concrete (RPC) is expected to witness highest growth rate over the forecast period. The material holds wide potential and is a durable, strong, and environmentally- friendly alternative to current products. The material possesses lower permeability, which enables its usage in high strength applications. The compressive stress-strain curve of the material displays linear elastic behavior. These factors together are expected to propel the segment growth over the next eight years.

Compact reinforced composite (CRC) is a special type of ultra-high performance concrete, which utilizes the incorporation of strong fibers that are short and stiff to achieve ductility. CRC type provides designers and builders a cost-effective solution and greater freedom to design. Such trends are expected to benefit the segment growth over the forecast period.

UHPC provides cost savings as they possess optical particle gradation producing a highly tight mix. Structures that are made by using normal concrete are heavy and require higher quantities of raw materials. Such trends coupled with the development of novel product portfolio by companies are expected to cater to a rise in the UHPC demand for construction applications.

The growth in military spending by governments across the globe is expected to favor the military segment growth. The materials possess versatile properties such as high strength, energy capacity, and durability as compared to other conventional concrete products. The properties of UHPC make it ideal for use in military applications, which require optimum performance under conditions such as shock, explosion, and impact loads. These trends, in turn, are expected to fuel the segment growth.  

Factors such as rapid urbanization, and increased infrastructure spending owing to various government initiatives, and increasing disposable income are some of the major contributors triggering the growth of construction industry in the region. Governments have entered into Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to develop projects such as railway networks, dams, and roads. In addition, concentrated efforts by the governments to provide affordable housing is driving the construction industry. The growth of the construction industry in the region is expected to cater to rising demand in the region.