Global Scans · Construction · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: 65 per cent of global construction growth for the next decade will happen in emerging markets. Smart cities, sustainable construction, greater urbanization and pre-fabricated buildings will all play their part in future construction growth.

• [New] Major global events taking place in 2026, including the FIFA World Cup and the America 250 celebrations, will place additional strain on supply chains, particularly in sectors such as construction, food, hospitality and logistics. Sustainability Online - A business news platform with a
• [New] The period from 2028 to 2030 will focus on finalising and optimising processes and improving line efficiency in accordance with industry standards, thereby serving as a basis for researching chip fabrication technology at more advanced process nodes. alcircle
• [New] Taking the island-wide closure as a new starting point, efforts will focus on high-standard construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, striving to make it a leading gateway for China's new era of opening up. Tiger Brokers
• [New] Gru Space plans a series of test missions beginning in 2029 and 2031 to validate habitat deployment, robotic construction, and resource processing on the moon. My Modern Met
• [New] Automation: By late 2025, UPS successfully automated 63% of its hub volume, with a goal of 400 automated buildings by 2028. Valley City Times-Record
• [New] Backed by the Federal Government's Critical Minerals Facility, the Eneabba Rare Earths Refinery is under construction, with commissioning scheduled for 2027. Australian Mining
• [New] Construction is planned for 2028 and operations expected in 2031, pending FID, with the plant slated to produce 25,000 tonnes of eSAF per year. / UK GreenAir News
• [New] The UK's £15 billion Warm Homes Plan marks a pivotal investment in sustainable construction, accelerating the shift toward energy-efficient buildings with solar panels, heat pumps and advanced insulation. Whole Life Carbon
• [New] Pipeline construction reaches an 18-year high on natural gas demand Midland Reporter-Telegram The United States is entering its most significant natural gas pipeline boom in nearly two decades, with a massive expansion projected for 2026. Marcellus Drilling News
• [New] Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2026, with the system projected to enter service between 2029 and 2030. / Brazil RCR Wireless News
• [New] Between 2023 and 2030 there will be a need for an additional 130,000 trained electricians - as well as 240,000 construction laborers and 150,000 construction supervisors - in the U.S. alone. Fortune
• [New] By 2031, 41% of construction workers are expected to retire, and only 10% of current workers are under 25. JD Supra
• [New] Taken together, 2026 will be a proving year: multiple advanced nuclear projects are moving from blueprints to construction. SEMIVISION
• [New] One of the most influential construction industry trends expected for 2026 is the continued rise of technology in construction. United Kingdom
• [New] After a choppy 2025, the UK is entering a period of modest but meaningful growth in construction and infrastructure in 2026, with total output projected to rise by 2.8% to 4.5%. MSS Infrastructure Ltd
• [New] Ethiopian Airlines launched the construction of a $12.5 B, four-runway Bishoftu International Airport near Addis Ababa, aiming to handle 110 million passengers a year by 2030 (Business Insider Africa). The Africa Brief
• [New] While we will not yet see full autonomy, 2026 is set to be a year of major breakthroughs for physical AI in construction. Equipment Journal
• [New] If current consensus forecasts hold true, the construction industry will need to bring in 349,000 new workers in 2026 just to keep the supply and demand for labour in equilibrium. ABC National
• [New] Virtual design and construction will trend in 2026 with AEC firms leveraging AI, digital twins in construction, and cloud collaboration software to deliver sustainable projects smarter and faster. RIB Software
• [New] Despite overall softness, data center construction is booming-up 33% in 2025 and projected to grow another 20% in 2026-driven by AI demand. glassglobal
• [New] As technologies continue to advance and policy support expands, recycled asphalt is expected to transition from an alternative material to a mainstream component of road construction worldwide. alcircle
• [New] Labour shortages are intensifying, with skilled trades under the most pressure, and projects Canada's construction industry will need to comprise more than 380,500 workers by 2034, including 111,600 new ones. Canadian Consulting Engineer
• [New] Madrid is not standing by: new data centers under construction here could bring in €930 million. RUSSPAIN.COM

Last updated: 28 January 2026