Iron Or Steel Bridges Market

The article provides a detailed analysis of the global iron or steel bridges market, highlighting consumption, production, imports, and exports. It discusses major trends and insights on key countries such as China, Finland, and India. The market performance is forecasted to continue an upward trend till 2030, with growth in both volume and value terms. The article also covers per capita consumption rates, import and export prices, as well as the top exporting and importing countries in the market.

Market Forecast

Driven by increasing demand for iron or steel bridges and bridge-sections worldwide, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next eight years. Market performance is forecast to decelerate, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +2.0% for the period from 2022 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market volume to 5.8M tons by the end of 2030.

In value terms, the market is forecast to increase with an anticipated CAGR of +3.9% for the period from 2022 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market value to $18.4B (in nominal prices) by the end of 2030.

Consumption

World Consumption of Iron Or Steel Bridges And Bridge-Sections

In 2022, approx. 4.9M tons of iron or steel bridges and bridge-sections were consumed worldwide; growing by 3.2% compared with the previous year. The total consumption volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.9% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. Global consumption peaked in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in years to come.

The global iron or steel bridges market value expanded modestly to $13.6B in 2022, surging by 1.7% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). The market value increased at an average annual rate of +4.3% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Over the period under review, the global market reached the maximum level in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Consumption By Country

China (848K tons) remains the largest iron or steel bridges consuming country worldwide, accounting for 17% of total volume. Moreover, iron or steel bridges consumption in China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest consumer, Finland (424K tons), twofold. The third position in this ranking was taken by India (332K tons), with a 6.8% share.

In China, iron or steel bridges consumption increased at an average annual rate of +5.6% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining consuming countries recorded the following average annual rates of consumption growth: Finland (+58.6% per year) and India (+4.4% per year).

In value terms, the largest iron or steel bridges markets worldwide were China ($1.7B), Finland ($1.1B) and India ($1.1B), with a combined 28% share of the global market.

Among the main consuming countries, Finland, with a CAGR of +57.4%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to market size over the period under review, while market for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In 2022, the highest levels of iron or steel bridges per capita consumption was registered in Finland (76 kg per person), followed by the United Arab Emirates (15 kg per person), Italy (2.7 kg per person) and Japan (1.3 kg per person), while the world average per capita consumption of iron or steel bridges was estimated at 0.6 kg per person.

In Finland, iron or steel bridges per capita consumption expanded at an average annual rate of +58.2% over the period from 2012-2022. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the United Arab Emirates (+34.4% per year) and Italy (-2.4% per year).

Production

World Production of Iron Or Steel Bridges And Bridge-Sections

In 2022, the amount of iron or steel bridges and bridge-sections produced worldwide stood at 5.1M tons, increasing by 7.1% compared with 2021. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.4% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 when the production volume increased by 13%. Over the period under review, global production hit record highs in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in years to come.

In value terms, iron or steel bridges production fell to $12.4B in 2022 estimated in export price. The total output value increased at an average annual rate of +3.1% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 when the production volume increased by 18%. Over the period under review, global production hit record highs at $13.1B in 2021, and then dropped in the following year.

Production By Country

China (988K tons) remains the largest iron or steel bridges producing country worldwide, comprising approx. 20% of total volume. Moreover, iron or steel bridges production in China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Finland (424K tons), twofold. The third position in this ranking was held by Bahrain (372K tons), with a 7.3% share.

In China, iron or steel bridges production increased at an average annual rate of +6.2% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining producing countries recorded the following average annual rates of production growth: Finland (+48.7% per year) and Bahrain (+2.4% per year).

Imports

World Imports of Iron Or Steel Bridges And Bridge-Sections

In 2022, the amount of iron or steel bridges and bridge-sections imported worldwide declined sharply to 573K tons, with a decrease of -20.7% on 2021 figures. Over the period under review, total imports indicated a notable increase from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.6% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports decreased by -26.5% against 2017 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 when imports increased by 41%. As a result, imports attained the peak of 779K tons. From 2018 to 2022, the growth of global imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, iron or steel bridges imports dropped to $1.3B in 2022. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +3.0% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 when imports increased by 37% against the previous year. As a result, imports attained the peak of $1.4B. From 2015 to 2022, the growth of global imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports By Country

In 2022, the United Arab Emirates (162K tons), distantly followed by Turkmenistan (81K tons) and Bangladesh (27K tons) represented the main importers of iron or steel bridges and bridge-sections, together comprising 47% of total imports. India (25K tons), the United States (15K tons), the Netherlands (14K tons), Oman (12K tons), Morocco (11K tons), the UK (11K tons), Malaysia (11K tons), Kuwait (9.8K tons), Sweden (9.7K tons) and Australia (8.6K tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, average annual rates of growth with regard to iron or steel bridges imports into the United Arab Emirates stood at +26.6%. At the same time, Morocco (+62.0%), Bangladesh (+37.3%), the Netherlands (+27.3%), India (+26.9%), Turkmenistan (+22.5%), Kuwait (+7.3%), Oman (+6.4%), the United States (+6.1%), Malaysia (+5.0%) and the UK (+4.5%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Morocco emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the world, with a CAGR of +62.0% from 2012-2022. Sweden experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Australia (-6.7%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of the United Arab Emirates (+24 p.p.), Turkmenistan (+11 p.p.), Bangladesh (+4.5 p.p.), India (+3.8 p.p.), the Netherlands (+2.1 p.p.) and Morocco (+1.9 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the global imports from 2012-2022, the share of Australia (-2.8 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the United Arab Emirates ($166M), Turkmenistan ($161M) and India ($76M) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2022, with a combined 31% share of global imports. The United States, Bangladesh, Morocco, the UK, Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Malaysia, Oman and Kuwait lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 28%.

Morocco, with a CAGR of +71.4%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices By Country

In 2022, the average iron or steel bridges import price amounted to $2,301 per ton, rising by 20% against the previous year. Overall, the import price, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. Global import price peaked at $2,437 per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, import prices failed to regain momentum.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Australia ($4,628 per ton), while the United Arab Emirates ($1,024 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Australia (+6.8%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports

World Exports of Iron Or Steel Bridges And Bridge-Sections

In 2022, overseas shipments of iron or steel bridges and bridge-sections were finally on the rise to reach 724K tons for the first time since 2019, thus ending a two-year declining trend. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.2% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 28%. The global exports peaked at 927K tons in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2022, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, iron or steel bridges exports expanded to $1.4B in 2022. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +3.6% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2013 with an increase of 31%. Over the period under review, the global exports reached the maximum in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Exports By Country

In 2022, Bahrain (373K tons) represented the key exporter of iron or steel bridges and bridge-sections, achieving 51% of total exports. It was distantly followed by China (141K tons), constituting a 20% share of total exports. Saudi Arabia (23K tons), Italy (21K tons), the Netherlands (16K tons), the UK (12K tons) and the United States (12K tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, average annual rates of growth with regard to iron or steel bridges exports from Bahrain stood at +2.4%. At the same time, China (+10.9%) and the Netherlands (+4.8%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, China emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the world, with a CAGR of +10.9% from 2012-2022. Italy and the UK experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Saudi Arabia (-5.9%) and the United States (-5.9%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of China (+12 p.p.) and Bahrain (+5.7 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the global exports from 2012-2022, the share of the United States (-1.8 p.p.) and Saudi Arabia (-3.3 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Bahrain ($357M), China ($290M) and Italy ($76M) constituted the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2022, with a combined 52% share of global exports.

In terms of the main exporting countries, Bahrain, with a CAGR of +13.6%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices By Country

The average iron or steel bridges export price stood at $1,904 per ton in 2022, therefore, remained relatively stable against the previous year. Over the period from 2012 to 2022, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.3%. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 when the average export price increased by 30% against the previous year. As a result, the export price reached the peak level of $1,930 per ton, and then reduced in the following year.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was the UK ($5,605 per ton), while Bahrain ($959 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Bahrain (+11.0%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform