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] Ongoing advancements in the field of bio-fabrication is another crucial factor that is anticipated to push 4D printing demand by 2032. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Announced new hydrogen pipeline projects could reach ~37,000-40,000 km by 2035, with the vast majority concentrated in Europe and China, but only a small share has reached FID or construction, leaving a large delivery gap between ambition and built reality. Precedence Research
• [New] The India Semiconductor Mission is backed by a Rs76,000 crore Production Linked Incentive framework and aims to build India's domestic semiconductor ecosystem from chip design through fabrication to final packaging and testing by 2030. MCQ Orbit
• [New] The construction sector faces a projected deficit of 349,000 workers in 2026 and 456,000 in 2027. eplaneai
• [New] Back to the Insurance Journal piece, one detail deserves more attention: data center construction spending is projected to jump sharply, and related facilities could generate $10 billion in new premium in 2026. Mean CEO's BLOG
• [New] Kairos Power started construction on a new facility that will produce Flibe molten salt coolant for its Hermes reactor. Energy.gov
• [New] Molecular engineering will produce new building materials that will allow for both cheaper and stronger construction. ExtraSlice
• [New] Construction of Entropy's Glacier Carbon Capture and Storage phase 2 project is expected to be completed in mid-2026, substantially decarbonizing the Glacier facility and driving a positive step change in Entropy's operating income from power sales and contractually guaranteed carbon pricing. Advantage Energy Ltd.
• [New] As the Olympics build ramps up from late 2026 through to mid-2031, construction capacity that might otherwise go into residential development will get absorbed into the Olympics pipeline. Property Update
• [New] Expansion of Smart City Projects: The UAE's commitment to developing smart cities presents a significant opportunity for AI integration in construction. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Increased Demand for Efficiency in Project Delivery: The UAE construction sector is projected to grow at a rate of 4.5% annually, driven by the need for enhanced efficiency in project delivery. Yahoo Finance
• [New] The National Center for Construction Education and Research projects roughly 41% of the current construction workforce will retire by 2031, a compressed timeline that training pipelines are not equipped to absorb. Tax Credit Advisor
• [New] Permafrost-related damage to buildings and roads in Alaska could cost between US$ 37 billion to US$ 51 billion by the middle of the century under medium and high emissions scenarios, with roads accounting for the largest share of losses. EIN Presswire
• Meta has 27 data centers operational or under construction in the US and plans to spend between $115 billion and $135 billion on infrastructure in 2026. Semiconductors Insight
• U.S. steel demand is forecast to grow about 1.8% in 2026, driven by pent-up residential construction demand and infrastructure spending. Ram Steelco
• Commonwealth Fusion Systems plans to begin construction on its first commercial plant in 2027 or 2028. The ClimateTech Memos
• Arizona's rising infrastructure demand, combined with new funding, is creating real opportunities for construction firms. ConstructConnect
• Water and sewage treatment construction starts will grow an additional 11% in 2027 to keep pace with the state's expanding industrial and demographic needs. ConstructConnect
• UK residential exposure should increasingly be viewed through a climate-risk lens, and portfolio construction should explicitly consider geographic concentration and risk-type exposure. Kalkine

Last updated: 13 May 2026