Insights
How geopolitics, regulation, and construction trends affect demand for building products — analysis from our forecasting team.
Brazil's construction sector in 2026: activity stabilising, confidence still absent
Five months into 2026, Brazil's construction sector is telling two different stories at the same time.
France Heatwave: Construction Sites Grind to a Halt
France has been gripped by an extraordinary heatwave since 17 June 2026, widely regarded as the most intense on record.
Fewer Swedish public housing companies in the red, but a SEK 686 billion maintenance backlog looms
Sweden's public housing sector entered 2026 on a slightly firmer financial footing than a year earlier, yet a substantial maintenance backlog ...
Sweden: recovery in the construction market continues
The Swedish construction labour market continued to improve in May 2026, according to the industry association Byggföretagen.
Germany: rising job vacancies in the construction industry
The number of job vacancies in the German construction industry rose for the second quarter in a row in the first quarter of 2026.
Fire Safety and Insurance: The Growing Debate Around Timber Buildings in Sweden
Sweden's ambition to decarbonise its construction sector has led to a rapid expansion of multi-storey timber buildings, which now account for roughly 17 per cent of newly built apartments.
Sweden’s Construction Sector Leads Emissions Reduction in 2025
According to preliminary data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), greenhouse gas emissions from the Swedish economy totalled 51,2 million tonnes of CO₂ ...
Non-residential construction remains at a low level
The latest forecast from week 23 continues...
US Senate bill aims to shield building materials from tariffs
According to the National Association of Home Builders and Senators Jacky Rosen and Chris Coons, the Housing Tariff Exclusion Act was introduced in the Senate in late February 2026.
Bosnia and Herzegovina strengthens energetic renovation of public buildings
The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted an updated operational plan on 18 March 2026 to improve energy efficiency in the public building stock.
China strengthens investments in existing urban areas, buildings and infrastructure
China is placing greater emphasis on investing in existing urban areas and their infrastructure for the period from 2026 to 2030.
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy returns to growth, but cost pressures rise sharply
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector returned to growth in April 2026. As S&P points out in its analysis, the Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia...
China: decline of housing prices slowed down but housing market still under pressure
China’s property market remains under pressure in 2026...
Netherlands: EPBD implementation makes building energy performance a key issue
The Netherlands is preparing to implement the European EPBD IV building directive.
Belgium's Housing Push: Tax Cuts and Community Models Reshape Affordability in 2025-2026
Belgium is attempting to tackle its acute housing shortage through two contrasting strategies: slashing purchase taxes for first-time buyers and expanding Community Land Trust (CLT) projects.
Spain: Consumer confidence rebounds after sharp March drop
Consumer sentiment in Spain recovered noticeably in April 2026.
Thailand ranks last in an ASEAN comparison
Thailand stands in stark contrast to the positive developments in Vietnam within the region
Belgium: Renovation subsidies are being reshaped at regional level
Belgian public subsidies for supporting renovation of homes are becoming more regionally differentiated.
Tokyo's Affordable Housing Initiative: Public-Private Fund Model Takes Shape
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is pursuing an innovative approach to address rising housing costs and vacant properties through a public-private partnership fund model—a departure from traditional government housing provision.
Vietnam: Vietnam’s Social Housing Exceeds its Annual Target
Vietnam exceeded its annual social housing construction target for 2025.
Japan's Housing Paradox: 800.000 new build homes despite high vacancy rates
Japan faces a demographic contradiction: nearly 9 million vacant homes yet 800,000 new constructions annually.
Türkiye is pushing ahead with a major social housing programme
At the start of 2026, the Turkish government gave further detail on its large-scale social housing programme under the slogan “Ev Sahibi Türkiye...
Netherlands: Construction confidence remains positive but loses momentum
Construction confidence in the Netherlands weakened in April 2026, but remained clearly positive.
France expands CEE scheme to support energy renovation
France is strengthening its Certificats d’Économies d’Énergie scheme in 2026. The programme, known as CEE, is ...
Poland’s housing market: Mortgage demand rises sharply
Poland’s housing market became noticeably more active in the first quarter of 2026. According to Otodom...
Stagnation in the Building and Energy Technology Sector: Market Recovery Delayed in Q1 2026
The building and energy technology sector in Germany continues to face significant ...
Finland: Industry indices show signs of recovery but on a low level
According the production index, published by the Finish Confederation of the Finnish Construction industries, CFCI (Rakennusteollisuus RT), first signs...
Italy: Weaker consumer confidence could slow housing and renovation decisions
Consumer confidence in Italy weakened again in April 2026.
Belgium’s construction sector records historically high number of bankruptcies
According to Embuild, the crisis in Belgium’s construction sector remains severe.
Poland: New regulations on construction influence materials used and construction prices
Polish developers are facing a more demanding regulatory environment...
US consumer confidence is sending new warning signs for the housing market
According to the Conference Board, US consumer confidence edged up to 91,8 in March 2026.
France tightens RE2020 rules for low carbon construction
Since 1 March 2026, France’s RE2020 building regulation has ...
Fed and ECB stay cautious: Interest rates remain stable, uncertainty remains high
The major central banks remain cautious. Both the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank have recently kept their key interest rates unchanged.
India pushes affordable housing
India is strengthening affordable housing through a broader mix...
Swedish Construction Redundancy Notices Halved in First Quarter
According to Swedish Byggföretagen, the number of redundancy notices in the Swedish construction industry halved during the first quarter...
Over 1,100 Kombohus Lamell Apartments Completed or Underway in Sweden
According to Sveriges Allmännytta, the Swedish Association of Public Housing Companies, across 19 different locations in Sweden...
The United Kingdom wants to tighten building safety oversight while making permits faster
With its Strategic Plan 2026 to 2027, the Building Safety Regulator is setting a new direction for its work in England.
Brazil’s central bank cuts rates, but remains cautious as inflation and uncertainty persist
According to Brazil’s monetary policy committee, Copom, the central bank cut the Selic rate to 14,75 percent in March 2026.
Argentina is facing strong action by central bank
According to the BCRA’s Objectives and Plans 2026 document, Argentina’s central bank ...
UK Construction Sector Under Pressure: Number of Critically Distressed Companies Rises Sharply
Financial strain in the UK construction sector intensified noticeably...
National Wealth Fund: state investment bank aims to mobilise more than £100 billion for infrastructure by 2030/31
The UK’s National Wealth Fund (NWF) has presented a five-year plan intended to mobilise more than £100 billion...
Construction products in the UK: demand weakness eases – cautious stabilisation in sight
From the perspective of the construction products industry, activity in the UK construction sector remains subdued, and weak demand is still seen as the main constraint for the coming months. ...
The United Arab Emirates is further expanding its state supported housing sector in 2026
According to Emirates News Agency, the UAE’s state supported housing sector made a strong start to 2026. ...
Türkiye’s mortgage reset could strengthen housing construction
Türkiye’s latest mortgage reform could provide new support for the residential construction market by making home ownership somewhat more accessible, ...
Timor-Leste: population growth and high numbers of dwellings per capita despite small absolute numbers
In a per-capita comparison (additional homes per 1,000 inhabitants per year), Timor-Leste ranks among the most dynamic housing markets in Southeast Asia, with a value of 2.9. ...
Chile aims to protect housing projects by extending the validity of building permits
Chile’s Ministry of Housing and Urbanism states that the government moved in February 2026 to extend the validity of certain building permits by another 12 months.
Brazil’s construction sector expects a better 2026, but remains cautious
Brazil's construction sector enters 2026 carrying the same structural pressures it has lived with for years...
Argentina’s construction costs continue to rise, increasing pressure on project pricing
According to Argentina’s statistics agency INDEC, the construction cost index for Greater Buenos Aires rose by 2,5% in March 2026 compared with the previous month.
Positive signals for Dutch construction industry from new coalition agreement
The new Dutch coalition agreement for 2026–2030 marks a shift after a prolonged period of political standstill and could improve the framework conditions for the construction sector.
New PNRR decree in Italy: faster approvals and fresh momentum for construction and energy
Italy aims to accelerate the implementation of projects under its National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). ...
Italy’s mortgage market in 2026: financing tailwinds – new construction responds with a delay
The Italian mortgage market is entering 2026 with positive momentum. ...
Spain’s construction labour market remains dynamic, but skilled labour shortages are becoming more prevalent
According to official statistics published in March, Spain’s construction sector continued to show strong labour market momentum in 2025, with hiring and employment both increasing further...
Flanders expands social housing investment as Belgium’s broader residential market remains under pressure
Flanders is stepping up public investment in housing with a landmark €1,7 billion financing agreement with the European Investment Bank, aimed at ...
Netherlands: Factory built homes become key to speeding up housing delivery
The Dutch government wants to shorten the long path from housing plans to completed homes.
Switzerland will invest heavily in national road infrastructure in 2026
According to the federal authorities, Switzerland will invest nearly 3,3 billion CHF in 2026 in the construction, maintenance, operation and targeted expansion of the national road network.
Italy: Construction prices keep rising and add pressure to project costs
Construction costs in Italy continued to rise in March 2026.
Netherlands: Subsidies link senior housing with the heat transition
The Dutch government is combining two major housing priorities: the energy transition and age appropriate housing.
India’s urban consumer mood weakens
According to the Reserve Bank of India, confidence among urban households...
Iran conflict: Three scenarios for European construction
What escalation means for energy prices, supply chains, and investment.
Timber demand: Structural trend or timing effect?
Rising demand as a pent-up phenomenon rather than structural shift.
Infrastructure fund: Who actually benefits?
Germany's €500bn fund and its real impact.
Ukraine reconstruction: Four scenarios to 2030
Probability-weighted scenarios from false boom to best case.
Europe's renovation wave: Where opportunities emerge
EU building directive meets tight budgets.
Spain: Building code update puts materials and life cycle emissions in focus
Spain’s planned CTE 2026 update will change how new construction and renovation projects are assessed.
How B+L forecasts are built
Behind the MDP model.
Japan: Home Energy Conservation 2026 will strengthen renovations
On November 28, 2025, Japan's Cabinet approved the FY2025 supplementary budget, including the "Home Energy Conservation 2026 Campaign", a comprehensive multi-ministry ...