Brazil Light Gauge Steel Framing Market Overview, 2030

The Brazil Light Gauge Steel Framing market has gone through several phases of growth, starting from limited use of cold formed steel sections and metal roofing in industrial, agricultural, or light commercial roofs and sheds, toward greater adoption in wall systems, skeleton framing, and structural framing for housing and commercial buildings as domestic manufacturing and regulatory frameworks matured. Roll forming has become a standard method for producing cold formed steel profiles (studs, tracks, purlins), adapted to locally available steel grades, and complemented in some cases by pressing or stamping of flanges, bending of special angles, and cutting / punching operations for service penetrations. Automation in Brazilian LGSF fabrication is heterogeneous: some companies in the more developed southern and southeast regions, especially in Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, have invested in cold rolled, GALV / galvanized / Galvalume coating lines, integrated coil processing, and automated cut and punch processes, while in other regions smaller fabricators rely more on less automated roll formers and manual or semi automated finishing. Global production technologies are being localized through use of coatings appropriate for Brazil’s humid coastal regions and tropical interior, adaptation to meet both wind load and corrosion requirements, and adjusting thickness / yield of steel (higher strength grades) so that lighter sections can be used. Prefabricated modular framing systems are increasingly used in Brazil especially in residential housing, lightweight commercial buildings, agricultural buildings, and roof/truss systems; some prefab panels for walls or roof components are produced off site and assembled on site. Major manufacturing hubs or clusters in Brazil include the southern states, the southeast, where infrastructure, skilled workforce, steel coil / coating capacity, and demand are concentrated.

According to the research report ""Brazil Light Gauge Steel Framing Market Outlook, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the Brazil Light Gauge Steel Framing market is anticipated to grow at more than 5.81% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. Raw materials in Brazil are relatively well supplied in many respects: there are large domestic steel producers such as Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), Usiminas, Gerdau, Aperam specializing in flat steel or specialty steels, with certain production of cold rolled and coated steel. Nonetheless, for coated coils and specialty finishes or very high strength grades, imports still play a role. Vertical integration varies: major steel firms often produce flat steel, then roll form downstream; coating, galvanizing, and finishing may be in house in large operations but many mid and small scale fabricators outsource the coating or finishing or use third party suppliers for specialized steel. Investment trends in Brazil include recent large investments by ArcelorMittal in its Vega cold mill complex to increase cold rolled, galvanized and Galvalume coil production, intending to supply more value added steel domestically and reduce imports. The Vega facility represents one of the largest recent investments in Brazil’s steel value chain. Brazil codes include ABNT NBR 14762 for cold formed steel structures, NBR 6123 for wind loads on buildings, and NBR 8800 among others, which cover design, structural loads, wind, and to some extent serviceability. Fire safety, structural safety, seismic loading are regulated under national building codes and municipal permits, materials used in framing must demonstrate corrosion resistance and compliance with structural load requirements. Environmental and sustainability standards are increasingly significant: Brazilian steel producers like ArcelorMittal are forwarding galvanizing coating expansions with more environmentally friendly technologies and energy inputs. Local regulatory bodies such as municipal building authorities, the state environmental agencies, ABNT (supervise compliance. International certifications accepted include ISO quality and environmental standards, edge surface finish standards for coating, sometimes ASTM or European cold formed steel standards in projects with foreign or export involvement.

The Brazil LGSF market is showing steady maturation in its manufacturing and regulatory ecosystem. This growth is underpinned by regulatory norms including ABNT NBR 14762 which governs dimensioning of cold formed steel profiles, ABNT NBR 6123 for wind loads on buildings, and more recently the NBR 16970 series which deals specifically with Light Steel Framing construction systems performance and structural design. Manufacturers frequently use roll forming to create C studs, tracks, purlins, with cold formed steel profiles, and sometimes press braking or stamping for custom sections. Automation levels vary: large producers in southern and southeastern Brazil have invested in more automated roll forming lines, computerized design tools, consistent tolerances and higher quality galvanizing, while smaller fabricators still use less automated or semi automated processes. The supply of raw steel (flat steel, coils) is relatively strong thanks to domestic steel producers like Usiminas, CSN, Gerdau, but for high zinc coatings, galvanized/galvalume sheets or very high strength grades, imports or specialist finishing are required. Vertical integration exists among major steel firms who supply raw steel, then process, roll form, coat, and distribute, whereas many smaller fabricators outsource coatings or finishing. Environmental and sustainability standards are emerging; developers seek recyclable steel, low waste, faster build, and there is rising interest in meeting green building certifications like LEED or local equivalents. Local regulatory bodies require materials and assemblies to meet performance under load, durability, corrosion resistance, wind/seismic loads, and fire safety per the ABNT norms. The ABNT NBR16970 2 standard clarifies structural design requirements, while NBR15253 sets requirements for profiles with metallic coatings and panels. These codes ensure cold formed steel framing systems perform reliably and meet safety expectations. Brand recognition in Brazil tends to favour companies that can show adherence to these codes and consistent quality, especially in regions with more infrastructure and demand such as São Paulo and southern states.

In Brazil the principal application of LGSF remains in residential construction, especially low and mid rise housing and affordable housing programs, where developers benefit from reduced construction time, lower labour costs, and improved durability against pests and humidity. As urban centres expand, the commercial sector has also begun adopting LGSF for its flexibility of design, quicker finishing, and ability to incorporate modern mechanical/electrical installations more cleanly. Industrial uses are growing, particularly for warehouses, logistics centres, agricultural processing buildings, where large clear spans or roofed space are needed. In 2023 Brazil’s market share for wall bearing steel framing was 46.9 percent, making it the largest segment by revenue, while skeleton steel framing is projected to be the fastest growing structural type over the 2024 2030 period. (Grand View Research) Pricing for LGSF components in Brazil is influenced heavily by global steel raw material prices, import duties for specialized steel finishes, cost of coatings, galvanizing, and transport. While materials alone can cost more than traditional masonry or concrete block in some cases, overall project cost often favours steel framing when factoring reduced labour, speed of erection, reduced foundation cost, and lower maintenance. Key players in Brazil include large steel producers with downstream framing or panel businesses, regional fabricators in São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, and prefab specialists who deliver panels or trusses. Norms and standards such as ABNT NBR 14762 and ABNT NBR 15253 are essential for market credibility, and many projects demand compliance. Applications of recent projects include housing developments, schools, small commercial centres, and increasingly modular construction for remote or rural areas.

Brazil has recently taken strong policy and trade protection steps affecting steel inputs relevant to LGSF, which ripple through pricing, supply chains, and competitive dynamics. In 2024, the government introduced import quotas and raised import duties on several steel products including hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, Galvalume, wire rod and certain tubes. The new import tariff is 25 percent when imports exceed defined quota thresholds. These quotas apply to product lines that saw import volumes 30 percent above the average for previous years (2020 2022). These protections aim to support domestic steel suppliers against cheaper foreign imports. Coated steel import quotas (were filled quickly indicating high demand and potential risk of exposure to higher duty rates for new shipments. Import wires, ropes, nails, scaffolding, and similar steel related construction materials also saw tariff hikes up to 25 percent. As a result, domestic steel input prices have increased or are expected to increase, especially for high finish or galvanized / coated coil steel used in framing. These added costs shift LGSF frame component pricing upward, especially for profiles needing specialized steel or coatings. Despite higher material cost, overall cost competitiveness of LGSF remains favourable versus traditional masonry or concrete block methods in many Brazilian use cases when factoring in faster erection, lower labor, less waste, and reduced foundation costs.

Brazil’s LGSF market is being pulled forward by increasing demand in several sectors and evolving competitive dynamics. Residential construction remains the largest segment, especially for low rise and mid rise housing; affordable housing programs and social housing initiatives are critical use cases, where LGSF offers speed, lower labor dependencies, and better resistance to moisture and pests relative to wood or masonry. The construction of basic health units and social housing has been studied in Brazil to compare LGSF versus reinforced concrete, with some findings favoring LGSF for its environmental and cost benefits over lifecycle in certain designs. Industrial and commercial sectors are growing rapidly in Brazil’s interior states, so demand for wide span roofs, prefabricated steel support structures, and modular roof panels is rising. Institutional projects (schools, community centers) are increasingly considered for LGSF when budgets and timelines favor faster modular or off site methods. Major steel producers such as CSN, Gerdau, and Usiminas are key players; they dominate raw steel supply and compete via value added products such as coated steel. There are also local fabricators and smaller manufacturers who specialize in framing profiles, prefabricated panels, or roof trusses. Buyer decisions tend to be influenced by total cost of ownership, time to complete, durability, regulatory compliance, and supplier reputation capacity. Awareness of LGSF among architects, engineers, developers is growing, particularly in urban centers; studies such as the social housing assessments show users often report satisfaction with comfort, thermal performance, and appearance.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Light Gauge Steel Framing Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Structural Type
• Skeleton steel framing
• Wall bearing steel framing
• Long span steel framing

By End-use
• Residential
• Commercial
• Institutional
• Industrial
• Others

By Construction System
• Wall Systems
• Roof Systems
• Floor Systems
• Ceiling Systems Show more