Aluminum demand in building and construction poised to grow by 9 percent by 2027

A new survey conducted by Michigan-based Ducker Carlisle and released by the Aluminum Association concludes that aluminum use in the building and construction market likely will grow by nearly 9 percent by 2027 over 2022 volumes.

The report, “Building the Future: Trend of Aluminum Use in the U.S. Construction Market,” indicates annual shipments will increase by more than 200 million pounds by 2027, with much of that growth driven by increased use of aluminum in commercial buildings and in clean energy applications, such as solar installations. Federal infrastructure spending, including emissions-reduction programs supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, also likely will increase aluminum’s use in buildings. 

The report reflects data collected over six months through interviews with architects and builders. Its findings include:

• Nonresidential construction made up more than 60 percent of the 2.5 billion pounds of aluminum used in building and construction applications in 2022.
• Extruded aluminum profiles make up the highest share of aluminum building products mainly because of high demand for aluminum window frames.
• Nonresidential (commercial) windows and cladding are the key drivers of market growth through 2027, followed by solar installations and nonresidential doors. 
• Aluminum is taking market share away from wood in fencing and masonry in commercial building cladding in light of aesthetic trends, longevity and ease of installation. Meanwhile, aluminum is losing market share from vinyl and composites in some residential applications such as windows and siding, though the trend likely will reverse.
• Residential and nonresidential aluminum markets are expected to recover in the coming years with a rebound in housing starts and the recovery in commercial construction and remodeling activity. Anticipated interest rate cuts, disinflation and population growth also should contribute to increased demand.
• The majority of architects and builders favor aluminum for its light weight, durability and ability to meet compliance codes.

Every $100,000 in residential and nonresidential spending will drive up to 126 pounds and 183 pounds of aluminum usage in construction in these market sectors, respectively, according to the study. Additionally, 62 percent of building and construction professionals surveyed (including 79 percent of architects) expect their use of aluminum to grow in the coming years and anticipate that among a dozen building materials, including steel, brick/stone, and concrete, aluminum is the material most likely to grow.

“Ducker Carlisle surveyed 250 industry professionals—including 200 architects and builders—regarding their preferred construction materials,” says Rhett Bender, senior engagement manager: global building and construction practice specialist at Ducker Carlisle. “We consistently heard that aluminum usage would increase over the next three years because aluminum is lightweight, durable, sustainable and corrosion resistant."

“Aluminum's use in buildings is growing thanks in part to the essential role that it plays in the clean energy transition,” says Paul Walker, chair of the Aluminum Association’s Building & Construction Committee and business development manager – commercial building & construction, drawn tubing, fabricated components at Norsk Hydro, headquartered in Norway. “The exciting news for us is that aluminum building products made in the United States and Canada already have an average recycled material content of more than 60 percent and a lower carbon footprint than alternative materials.” 

According to Aluminum Association data, building and construction is the third-largest market for North American aluminum producers, behind transportation and packaging. The segment represents roughly 13 percent of overall shipments in the region. Commercial applications represent nearly two-thirds of all building and construction aluminum used. Major submarkets include aluminum extruded profiles used in residential and nonresidential windows and fencing; entry and patio doors; and aluminum sheet used in building cladding and gutters. Additionally, aluminum increasingly is used as part of solar installation systems on buildings.

The study says governments are prioritizing energy efficiency through regulation, incentives, updated building codes and enforcement. The built environment is responsible for 42 percent of global carbon emissions, of which 27 percent are attributable to building operations, such as heating and lighting.

Building with aluminum materials helps building projects qualify for green building status under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards by providing insulation, allowing more daylight and airflow and reflecting up to 95 percent of the solar energy that strikes them, dramatically improving energy efficiency, the Aluminum Association adds.

The association notes that domestically produced aluminum and aluminum products are about half as carbon-intensive as aluminum products made in the rest of the world, with aluminum products made in China being more than twice as carbon-intensive than North American aluminum, on average. Assuming the global aluminum industry commits to dramatic emissions-reduction efforts, it would still take eight to 10 years for the rest of the world to produce semifabricated aluminum at the same carbon intensity as North America does today, the Aluminum Association adds.