According to Global Industry Analysts Inc., a rebound in the construction sector, global GDP growth and the continued rise in emerging markets across the Asia-Pacific region is expected to enable the asphalt market to register growth to 118.4 million metric tons by 2015.
Research shows that Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe, which are taking up numerous paving projects including highways and shorter routes on a large scale, are expected to be the major growth markets. Paving represents the largest end-use segment for asphalt globally, while roofing constitutes the other major end-use segment of asphalt.
Major producers of Primary Asphalt and Asphalt Products profiled in the report include BP Plc, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, Royal Dutch Shell plc, Akzo Nobel, Anglo American Plc, Atlas Roofing Corporation, Aggregate Industries Limited, CEMEX UK Operations Limited, CertainTeed Corporation, Colas Danmark A/S, CRH PLC, GAF Materials Corporation, Hanson, Lafarge SA, Oldcastle Materials Inc., Owens Corning, SemGroup Corporation, and Sinopec.
Factors that continue to govern the market landscape include world economy gradation, prices of crude oil and implementation of new infrastructure projects. Besides these, environmental concerns, especially with regard to asphalt recycling, shape the industry structure.
The asphalt market declined drastically during 2008 and 2009, as demand dropped in various end-use segments including paving and roofing. The harsh market conditions forced a noticeable number of suppliers either to close down or temporarily halt operations in their facilities. The fall was significantly higher in matured markets such as the US and Europe, which collectively generate more than 55 percent of the world asphalt production.
