Europe Shotcrete/Sprayed Cement Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Types (Rapid Hardening Cement, Low Heat Cement, Sulfate Resisting Cement, White Cement, Waterproof Cement, High Alumina Cement, Others), By Process (Wet Spraying, Dry Spraying), By Applications (Underground Constructions, Water Retaining Structures, Protective Coatings, Repair Work) and By Country(Germany, France, U.K, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe) Forecasts, 2024-2032

Market Overview

In 2019, the Europe shotcrete/sprayed cement market size was valued at USD 6,043 million which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period 2020–2027.

Concrete is probably the most versatile material used in the construction industry. It is strong enough to form basic material required for the most massive structures. Sprayed concrete was widely used for repair work and adopted for new construction activities. The current acceptance is that “Shotcrete” is used in the USA and “sprayed concrete” is the more widely used term in Europe. There are several shotcrete/sprayed concrete providers in the European region. These service providers use various processes such as dry spraying and wet spraying to construct and repair.

Market Dynamics

The Europe shotcrete/sprayed cement market is majorly driven by increasing urbanization, development in the cement to improve its efficiency, and various benefits over traditional cement.The shotcrete cement industry is characterized by continues technological advancement in materials utilized for shotcrete construction such as cement, equipment, processes, and chemicals. Thus, the enhanced products are responsible for improved structural and mechanical strength of the constructed infrastructure. For instance, in January 2018, the Kryton International Inc. launched a concrete hardening admixture namely Hard-Cem, which increases erosion and abrasion resistance of concrete.The construction segment is likely to account for about 10.3% of developed economies’ GDP as compared to16.7% in emerging markets by 2027.

Additionally, increasing government support for the development of new and advanced products and the presence of huge companies has supported the growth of the market in Europe.

Economic and technical efficiency of shotcrete

Significant metropolitan growth and rapidly growing urban population is responsible for increasing demand of public infrastructures such as underground rail-network, road tunnels and parking lots. In addition, expanding underground industrial activities such as mining, water and sewage treatment plants are fueling the demand of underground constructions. Unlike regular concrete, the shotcrete process does not require compaction or forming and can be directed sprayed on the surface which reduces construction time and saves additional cost for users. The shotcrete concrete offers several advantages such as enhanced durability and it also provides improved mechanical strength to infrastructure when compared with regular concrete. Moreover, the built structure built by shotcrete concrete is less porous which, increases bond strength and improves the overall sturdiness of the structure.

Difficulties in spraying processes

The shotcrete mortar is conveyed by two distinct spraying processes namely wet spraying and dry spraying. However, both processes come with different disadvantages such as dust formation, rebound, spray output and material wastage.

In the dry spraying process leads to the production of high amounts of dust along with a higher rate of rebound due to types of aggregates used in the concrete. Moreover, it has a lower spray output which can result in reduced productivity.

However, in wet spray process the dust production and the rate of rebound is very low as compared to the dry process, but the equipment’s utilized for wet spraying are very costly and may require high maintenance owing to which the growth of the segment is likely to be hampered during the forecast period.

Table 1: Advantages and Disadvantages of Spraying Techniques

Source: RM Analysis

Regional Analysis

Geographically, the Europe shotcrete/sprayed cement market is segmented into Germany, France, the U.K, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, and Rest of Europe.

European shotcrete/sprayed cement market is one of the most dominant markets across the globe. Germany and the U.K. are accounting for a major share of the European market owing to increasing infrastructure, and high tech and safe transportation systems. Additionally, rapid development in construction industries, strict government regulation regarding the grades and quality of the cement, and availability of funds for research and development are driving the market growth to some extent. Germany holds the major share of the European market, whereas Turkey is expected to emerge as the fastest growing economy in the region.

Segmental Analysis

By type, rapid hardening cement held the largest market share of the europe shotcrete/sprayed cement market

On the basis of the type, the market is segmented into rapid hardening cement, low heat cement, sulphate resisting cement, white cement, waterproof cement, high alumina cement, and others. Among which the rapid hardening cement is mostly common and widely used in the construction of road where the traffic cannot be halted for long period of time. Additionally, it is also used in conditions where enough strength for further construction is wanted as quickly as practicable such as precast slabs, posts, electric poles, and others. Rapid hardening cement holds the major share of the market owing to its huge applications.

By process, wet spraying segment dominated the europe shotcrete/sprayed cement market in 2018

On the basis of the process, the market is segmented into wet spraying and dry spraying. The wet spraying market held the largest market share in 2018, and was valued around USD 4,168 million during the forecast period. The wet sprayed concrete is the distribution of ready-mixed sprayed concrete consisting of cement, aggregate, sprayed concrete admixtures, and water in a workable mix. Wet sprayed concrete is majorly used when high set concrete class is indicated, and high output is required. The major applications of the wet sprayed concrete process are: substantially improved working conditions in the spraying area, sprayed concrete works with high output capacity, and higher durability due to controlled mixing water quantity. It is the fastest-growing segment.

By application, the underground construction segment held the largest market share of the europe shotcrete/sprayed cement market

On the basis of the application, the market is categorized into underground construction, water retaining structures, protective coatings, free-formed structures, and repair works. Underground construction is expected to dominate the market on account of growing construction and transportation activities. The construction sector in Europe majorly contributes to the regional GDP, accounting for around 9% of the EU GD, owing to which the government of the region takes various initiatives to boost the sector growth. According to European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), in 2018, the EU’s total construction output was valued around 1,641 billion. The sector included 3.3 million enterprises, creating around 29% and 6.4% of the total industrial employment and total employment in the European Union in the same year.

Figure 1: Country-level Total Construction output in Europe, 2018

Source: European Construction Industry Federation

Impact of covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced governments to close down inter-nation, inter-state, and even inter-city borders to promote social distancing as a measure to stop the spread of the disease. The WHO warns cash and bank cards may also aid disease transmission, and at present, digital payments offer the safest option. Hence, many are opting for online transactions, especially as retailers are refusing hard cash.

The pandemic has redirected authorities’ attention toward the expansion of online payment systems and contactless cards. Countries such as the U.S. and China are planning to promote electronic cash to fight against the spread of the deadly pathogen. Businesses and governments in the regions are significantly investing in digital currency because it cannot be misplaced and is widely accepted by business officials. The robust infrastructure of the U.S. financial market for electronic money facilitated through Visa and MasterCard, and China’s recent announcement of electronic Renminbi (e-RMB) are a couple of the best examples in the current scenario.

• Trade globalization
• Economic globalization
• Military and geostrategic globalization

The below chart represents the historical exchange rate of the U.S. Dollar to the Chinese Yuan.

China’s Digital Currency Market Post-COVID-19

• With PBoC’s support, the digital Yuan will be ‘tokenised’, and e-RMB will grow at a rapid pace, intensely competing with Alipay and WeChat pay
• In Shenzhen, Suzhou, Chengdu, Xiong'an, and certain 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics host cities, the digital money will be tested. Global brands including McDonalds, Starbucks, and Subway will test.
• The country targets a nationwide rollout in two or three years with an aim to reduce the amount of hard cash printing.
• The e-currency will disrupt traditional banking, replacing some part of physical cash owing to the ubiquitous presence of Chinese QR code-based digital wallets.
• Since May 2020, several provinces' civil officials will get half their monthly pay in e-RMB.

Rest of the World (RoW)

• Factors such as declining cash use and the rise of privately owned ‘stablecoins’ has compelled governments across the world to prioritize Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) confirmed in April that it had received an application for a payment system license from a Geneva-based association governing Facebook’s planned cryptocurrency Libra.
• Regarding CDBCs, both the Bank of England (BoE) in the United Kingdom and the Central Bank of France (Banque de France) are making progress.
• It is anticipated that the growing cryptocurrency investments from South Africa, the Middle East, and Africa would open up new markets for the industry worldwide.

Recent Developments

Some of the recent development in the shotcrete/sprayed cement market are:

• In 2018, Heidelberg Cement A.G., leading player in cement and other construction products has completed the acquisition of Essroc Cement for USD 4.2 billion
• In 2017, GCP Applied Technologies announced its two new additives for cement with the aim to enhance the performance and lower cost
• In 2017, BASF SE, a leading player in the chemical manufacturing announced that it has completed the acquisition of THERMOTEK, a leading a waterproofing supplier. Additionally in the same year PCI Group, a subsidiary of BASF SE also completed the acquisition of Henkel’s Professional Western European Building Material business
• In 2017, LafargeHolicim, Swiss Material giant announced its investment of USD 120 million to expand the cement plant in Argentina Province