Concrete Repair Mortars Market

Market Overview

The global concrete repair mortars market size was valued at USD 2,755.61 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 4.095.12 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The expansion of the market is driven by the need to embed reinforcing steel into concrete for structural integrity in modern infrastructure, such as roads, highways, and bridges.

Concrete repair mortars are specialist materials for repairing and rehabilitating deteriorated or damaged concrete buildings. Concrete constructions such as buildings, bridges, highways, and other infrastructure are repaired and rebuilt using these materials. Polymer-modified cementitious mortar (P.M.C.) and epoxy-based mortars are among the materials used in the worldwide concrete repair mortars market. These materials have several advantages, including increased durability, corrosion resistance, and better bonding qualities. Concrete repair mortars have many uses and may be found in building, construction, transportation, and infrastructure. For example, concrete repair mortars can be used to repair damaged concrete structures in bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Growing Construction Repair and Transport Infrastructure

Modern infrastructure such as roads, highways, and bridges demand embedding reinforcing steel into the concrete for structural integrity, and concrete is exposed to the deicing salts that cause reinforcing steel corrosion. The concrete is also placed in harsh environments without properly protecting against the adverse effects, resulting in increased stress, by exposing its structural limitations. Due to all these stresses, these infrastructures need to be repaired at some point in their life cycle, significantly driving the growth of the global concrete repair mortars market.

Furthermore, the porosity of concrete allows the harsh environment to enter the concrete, causing corrosion and freeze-thaw damage. Protecting concrete with penetrating and topical sealers and waterproofing products helps eliminate water intrusion, salts, chemicals, and environmental irritants, increasing the structure's life cycle. These products form a durable physical barrier between the concrete and the harsh environment. Based on these factors, the demand for concrete repair mortars is anticipated to grow substantially over the forecast period.

Market Restraint

Improper Preventive Maintenance Schedule

Proper infrastructure maintenance must be carried out to maintain a safe environment during regular use. This continuous process includes immediate remedial action for any fault besides preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance includes periodic maintenance and special repairs. Different components of the structure and services deteriorate with the aging of the infrastructure. Major repairs and replacement of elements become inevitable. It becomes imperative to stop the structure from deteriorating and experiencing excessive wear and tear and to return it as close to its former state as possible.

However, most of the infrastructure maintenance schedules lack preventive maintenance planning due to budget constraints, organizational difficulties, and time constraints. Such negligence could lead to heavy damage to the infrastructure. The improper preventive maintenance planning keeps the structure untouched for repairs over a longer period. The construction businesses in developing countries tend to follow this trend, which could lead to the reduced life span of the infrastructure. Such events across the globe are anticipated to hinder the growth of the concrete repair mortars market and restrain the market from reaching its full potential.

Market Opportunities

Rapid Urbanization in Emerging Economies

The global economy has been experiencing the direct positive impact of infrastructure development. There is a direct relationship between investments in infrastructure development and the country's economic growth. Emerging economies such as China, India, Thailand, Brazil, and others are focusing more on their infrastructure development. The rapidly growing urbanization in these countries, coupled with the trend of public-private partnerships, especially in the transport sector, creates urban infrastructure requirements. The growth of urbanization in the country will likely positively impact the demand for concrete repair mortar, as government investments in urban infrastructure in emerging countries have gradually increased over the past couple of decades.

Furthermore, established markets such as the U.S., UK, Germany, France, and Australia have invested more in infrastructure developments, contributing to economic growth. Their country-level transport, marine, public, residential, and corporate infrastructure have been regularly regulated for maintenance. Such systematic repairs and maintenance in the established markets are generating lucrative opportunities for the manufacturers of concrete repair mortars to innovate and provide high-quality products to increase revenue.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global concrete repair mortars market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-Pacific is the most significant global concrete repair mortars market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.91% over the forecast period. Due to a large potential opportunity in the construction sector, the region is predicted to rise at a high rate throughout the forecast period. The region's construction industry is expected to outperform because of increased per capita income, expanding urbanization, and a growing population. Likewise, market growth is expected to be accelerated over the forecast period due to the adoption of green building regulations by local governments. High temperatures and extreme climatic conditions generally characterize the Asia-Pacific. Therefore, consumers in the region prefer concrete construction, which creates a wide scope for the product demand for building and infrastructure repair work, including concrete cracks, patches, and filling rework. Moreover, concrete repair mortars are expected to be in high demand during the forecast period due to the region's booming economies. This is mainly due to the massive investments made by various governments in public infrastructure development and the expansion of the residential construction industry.

North America is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period. North America is expected to be one of the most influential markets for concrete repair mortars owing to the high consumption of concrete building material in various end-use segments, including building and construction, road infrastructure, utility, and marine. The presence of the developed economies, including the U.S. and Canada, along with rapidly developing Mexico, is expected to spur the demand for the product in various application segments over the given time frame. In addition, the rising number of domestic and international migrants in the region, especially in Canada and Mexico, is expected to boost the demand for construction and repair in residential and commercial buildings, thereby propelling the building end-use segment over the forecast period. Subsequently, increasing demand for repair and maintenance in commercial buildings, including shopping malls and supermarkets, due to the high population is expected to add growth to the market in a given timeframe.

The Middle East and Africa region is expected to experience significant market expansion in the next years. This is due to the focus of key countries like Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Qatar, and South Africa on developing the residential and commercial construction industry. Due to increased funding by the African government, the construction industry is expected to experience growth in the utilization of the product for repair and maintenance work in the building end-user segment. This funding is possible through various financing options such as domestic capital markets, public-private partnerships (P.P.P.s), and private investment funds.

Segmental Analysis

The global concrete repair mortars market is bifurcated into type, applications, grade, and end-use.

Based on type, the global concrete repair mortars market is bifurcated into polymer-modified cementitious (P.M.C.) mortars and epoxy-based mortars.

The polymer-modified cementitious (P.M.C.) mortars segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.6% over the forecast period. Polymer-modified cementitious (P.M.C.) is one of the most widely used types of concrete repair mortars in the construction application segment owing to their exceptional properties, including strength and durability, workability, adhesion, and cement curing. This mortar type is produced by mixing water with polymeric admixtures, sand, and Portland cement. Different polymers used to prepare the admixtures include latex polymers, re-dispersible dry polymers (such as ethylene-vinyl acetate), and water-soluble polymers like polyvinyl alcohol.

Based on application, the global concrete repair mortars market is bifurcated into hand/troweling, pouring, and spraying.

The hand/trowel segment owns the highest market share and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period. It is a finishing method that is highly used in the market owing to its versatility and horizontal and vertical repair of buildings. The method uses equipment or a machine with a steel blade, either hand or motor-operated. The method is used on the newly worked concrete surface to form a dense, smooth surface for a good wear-resistant finish. The trowel used for the finish is primarily a steel blade for exterior and interior concrete finish applications.

A hand-handled trowel containing a steel blade is typically used on the concrete surface to achieve even density and high wear resistance. Still, other trowels, including hand-operated Fresno trowels, can also be used. It is attached to a pole, which enables the finishing process without letting the construction worker on the concrete slab. However, the Fresno trowel does not result in even density or wear resistance. As a result, it is only used to improve the surface condition of the concrete.

Based on grade, the global concrete repair mortars market is segmented into structural and non-structural.

The structural segment dominates the global market and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period. Structural cracks are the foundation cracks that occur in the building that threaten its structural integrity. These cracks primarily occur in poured concrete and concrete block foundation walls. The primary causes of structural cracks include voids under the foundation, expansive soil, improper grading, and inadequate work on soil compactness before construction.

Structural-grade repair mortar is used to repair cracks and patches in structures along with solutions, including carbon fiber straps, well-plate anchors, and push piers. Structural grade repair mortars primarily include polymer-modified cementitious (P.M.C.) mortars due to their high adhesive properties, crack resistibility and compatibility. Different polymers such as latex and styrene-butadiene rubber (S.B.R.) are highly used to modify cement mortar into a repair system in building and construction works.

Based on end-users, the global concrete repair mortars market is divided into building and car parks, road infrastructure, utility, and marine.

Buildings and car parks are major growth contributors to the concrete repair mortar market due to rapid construction, renovation, and maintenance activities across the globe. For residential or commercial purposes, personal and private-owned buildings are subjected to various repair, maintenance, and renovation processes to maintain and increase their building integrity and lifespan. As a result, concrete repair materials are used to protect the building concrete structures against cracking, patches, corrosion, and chemical anchoring.

Road infrastructure is expected to be the largest contributor to the concrete repair mortars market owing to the global rising road construction and maintenance program. Various economies, irrespective of whether developed or developing, are extensively investing in road infrastructure that could lower overall transportation costs and time.

Recent Developments

• May 2023- Sika, a construction chemical producer, announced the purchase of InnoTech, a developer of polymer-modified mortars for concrete restoration. This acquisition will help Sika expand its position in the concrete repair business and provide it access to InnoTech's cutting-edge technology.
• February 2023- Mapei, another major maker of construction chemicals, introduced a new line of concrete repair mortars. The new product line comprises solutions for a wide range of applications, including crack treatment, spalling repair, and waterproofing.