Germany Infrastructure Report Q2 2008

The German construction industry has been on the road to revival since 2006. The industry is in a phase of consolidation on a significant scale; it is also expanding its roots in the overseas construction market.

According to BMI's newly released Germany Infrastructure Report Q208, the construction industry is forecast to log a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.98% over the 2008-2012 period.

The largest construction projects in Germany are in transport infrastructure. Increased output in civil engineering is expected from investments in road and rail construction, with the main focus being on the German Unity programme. One of the biggest projects planned in the country is in the transport segment - the US$8.32bn Brenner tunnel, which will link Germany with Austria and Italy. Moreover, the 17 transport projects under the German Unity programme have been the cynosure of its construction industry since 1991, with the government still pouring in additional capital to make the programme successful.

Also on the anvil are privately financed road infrastructure projects that are proposed to be tendered internationally.

The rigid labour markets and excessive bureaucracy that have accompanied EU expansion act as dampeners on the German construction industry. Furthermore, expansion of the European Union has intensified competition in the region. Adding to concerns is the slowly decelerating rate of growth of housing prices that threatens to create sluggishness in the construction industry of Germany and its partners in the EU. Outside the EU, China is well on the way to displacing Germany from its top position as a major global manufacturing power.

That said, an impressive and growing international presence in construction - well-supported by a highly developed building materials market - will help the German construction industry tread the path of growth. Accordingly, BMI forecasts the construction industry to be valued at US$120.49bn in 2008, expanding to more than US$147bn by 2012.