Global Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings Market Assessment, By Structure [Single Story, Multi Story], By End-Use Sector [Industrial/Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Others], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2018-2032F

Global pre-engineered steel buildings market is projected to witness a CAGR of 7.48% during the forecast period 2025-2032, growing from USD 20.95 billion in 2024 to USD 37.30 billion in 2032. Main reason of growth for pre-engineered steel buildings is easily customization to meet specific requirements. This flexibility allows for a wide range of applications, from warehouses and factories to sports facilities and retail outlets.

Due to the phenomenal increase in mechanization within the construction sector, pre-engineered steel construction has emerged as an advanced building technology. A shortage of skilled manpower and the built-in advantages of speed, economy, and environmental impact have become the major reasons for the popularity of these buildings within the construction industry over the globe.

Advantages of pre-engineered buildings over traditionally built ones are that pre-engineered buildings reduce material waste, have better quality control, and increase safety on site. They are also more environmentally friendly. While strict quality control guarantees reliable and durable constructions, regulated production reduces material waste and encourages sustainable building practices across the globe. More and more pre-engineered steel construction is being used in commercial, industrial, and cement sectors. The usage of pre-engineered built components enables companies to speed up construction without sacrificing quality at economical prices. In pre-engineered construction, the absence of exterior uncontrollable factors like bad weather allows and provides for better quality control through standardized processes with fewer procedures.

Population Growth and Rapid Urbanisation are One of the Factors Driving the Growth of the Market

Population growth and rapid urbanization are significant drivers of the pre-engineered steel buildings market. As urban areas expand and populations increase, the demand for infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, offices and commercial spaces surges. Pre-engineered steel buildings offer a cost-effective and efficient solution to meet these needs, allowing for rapid construction and scalability. For example, in rapidly growing cities like Shanghai (China) and Mumbai (India), buildings are used for new manufacturing plants and warehouses, addressing the need for expanded industrial and commercial facilities in burgeoning urban environments.

The push for affordable housing solutions and urban redevelopment projects further fuels the market. With the rise in urban populations, cities face increasing pressure to provide affordable and quickly constructed residential units. Their flexibility, speed of construction, and cost efficiency make them a preferred choice for addressing housing shortages and modernizing aging infrastructure in rapidly urbanizing regions.

For instance, in November 2024, Epack Prefab Technologies Limited announced plan to build fastest factory in India in 150 hours using pre-engineering structure, this project completed in Andhra Pradesh, India, with area of 151,000 square feet.

Less Construction Time and Manpower

Construction with pre-engineered steel building construction cuts the time by over half compared to traditional reinforced cement concrete (RCC) methods. Part of the efficiency is that most of the components will be fabricated in a controlled factory environment, ensuring minimum site work to just assemble these prefabricated parts. Pre-engineered steel building is responsible to 40% to 50% faster to construct a pre-engineered steel building compared with RCC construction. Certainly, this serves to advance the timeline in those projects where speed is of essence, such as in commercial development and infrastructural emergencies.

For instance, in November 2023, Epack Prefab Technologies Limited successful completed large-scale project underscores the efficiency and effectiveness of pre-engineered building solutions in industrial construction in India. The project area was 3.2 million square feet. By significantly reducing construction time and manpower requirements, Epack Prefab Technologies Limited has set a benchmark for delivering high-quality, cost-effective, and sustainable infrastructure solutions in the automobile sector and beyond.

Pre-engineered steel buildings have less manpower at site compared to conventional RCC construction. Most of the work is done at the off-site, so work executed at site is mostly assembling of pre-manufactured components. Thus, about 25% less manpower is required. This reduction in labor will help lower the cost of construction and improve safety and efficiency on the construction site. This pre-engineered steel building is attractive for projects sensitive to the use of time and labor resources.

Asia-Pacific Region is Fastest-Growing Market for Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings

The major contributors of such dominance can be attributed to the rapid industrialization and urbanization, and a high rate of adoption of advanced construction methods in the region. Moreover, the growth of travel and e-commerce sectors is further expected to drive the demand for commercial and industrial buildings such as hotels, restaurants, and warehouses, thus fostering the growth of pre-engineered steel structures. Due to favourable government policies leading to a sudden rise in commercial as well as industrial building, along with the increasing demand for infrastructure, China and India dominate a large share of markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

For instance, the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity are some of the policies and initiatives that the Government of India (GOI) has put in place to support the construction and building industry. Capital expenditure in the construction industry has gone up with these initiatives.

Single Story Segment is Projected to Dominate

The single-story segment is expected to hold the largest share in the global pre-engineered steel buildings market, accounting for several key factors. Single-story pre-engineered steel buildings are usually much more affordable than multi-story ones. The process of construction is less complicated and requires a smaller number of materials and complexities related to design issues.

For retail outlets and warehouses, single-story buildings are often preferred. This design choice maximizes usable floor area and significantly reduces structural costs. This trend is particularly evident in industries like logistics and retail, as seen in the design of Amazon fulfillment centers, which prioritize both space and cost efficiency.

In contrast, single-story design has allowed for faster construction times, one of the major advantages to businesses and developers. Since construction has less verticality and complicated load transmission, a single-story steel building can be constructed faster to enable quicker occupancy and use. In fact, this flexibility makes it apt for applications like agricultural buildings, small units of manufacturing, community centers, and the like, where speed and adaptability become important. Similarly, farm storage buildings are also typically single-story, pre-engineered steel structures, a design chosen to effectively maximize the available space for their function.

Future Market Scenario (2025 – 2032F)

• Global pre-engineered steel buildings market is highly restricted by the price fluctuation of fundamental materials, whose prices are hugely fluctuated.
• The pre-engineered steel building market will be dominated by the Asia-Pacific region. Contribution is expected to grow over the forecast period. Growth mainly results from rapid urbanization, industrialization, and infrastructure development. According to the Asian Development Bank, the surge in demand for residential, commercial, and industrial facilities in the year 2023 was assisted by an increase of 2.7% growth of the urban population in the region from 2.5% in 2022.
• Increased demand for better technologies will facilitate construction activities faster in the future, with more customized options and structural performances. This will increase demand for new improved pre-engineered steel buildings.
• Commercial and residential demands along with industrial space in growing cities will ensure that the demand for pre-engineered steel buildings continues to grow, as it is cost-effective and easy to scale.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The pre-engineered steel buildings market is characterized by a diverse group of prominent players driving innovation and shaping the industry landscape. Major companies in this sector are at the forefront, leveraging extensive manufacturing capabilities and technological advancements to deliver high-quality, cost-effective, and sustainable building solutions. These key players focus on enhancing structural efficiency, customization, and rapid construction timelines to cater to industrial, commercial, and infrastructure demands.

The competitive landscape is marked by strategic expansions, mergers, and acquisitions, as well as investments in advanced production techniques to strengthen market presence. Additionally, sustainability initiatives, such as energy-efficient designs, are becoming a key differentiator among industry leaders. Emerging markets and infrastructure development further fuel growth, with companies adapting to regional regulations and evolving customer preferences.

For instance, in November 2024, Kirby Building Systems inaugurated a new 50,000 tons expansion at its Halol facility in Gujarat, doubling its pre-engineered steel building capacity to 100,000 tons per year. The company's expansion will enable it to satisfy the nation's expanding need for pre-engineered buildings.