Barcelona’s Construction Trade Fair ‘Construmat’ resists the crisis and will travel to China in 2012

Barcelona (ACN).- More than 1,300 exhibitors gathered together to show their products to more than 150,000 construction professionals at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue. The 17^th edition of ‘Construmat’ kicked off last May 16^th and will run until Saturday 21^st. This biannual event held in Barcelona and L’Hospitalet del Llobregat is the most important trade fair for the construction industry in Spain. The crisis in the sector did not affect the number of exhibitors, similar to 2009 edition’s. However the exhibition space is reduced, as companies have taken smaller stands to lower costs. This edition has 20% less exhibition space compared to the last edition. In 2011, the fair will mainly focus on renovation, as well as innovation, sustainability and internationalisation. In fact, to face market contraction, Catalan and Spanish construction companies have started to look abroad. For that reason, ‘Construmat’ announced a sister event in China, to be held in July 2012 in Beijing.

Despite the construction bubble bursting, the construction industry in Spain remains an important economic industry. The stakeholders gather together every two years at the Fira de Barcelona, at the Construmat fair. However, the fair seems far from the pre-crisis edition, in 2007. That year around 2,700 exhibitors displayed their products in 155,000 square metres. In 2009, in the middle of the recession and the real estate bubble bursting, the exhibitors were reduced to 1,350 and the space to 75,000 m2. The significant decrease was not only due to the crisis, as two minor fairs, derived from Construmat, started that year and took away some exhibitors. Nevertheless, the fair clearly shrunk in 2009. At the 2011 event, the number of exhibitors somehow stabilised, although with a very minor decrease compared to 2009. In 2011 there are 1,318 exhibitors, coming from 28 different countries. However, they hired less space to reduce costs and therefore the exhibition space passed from 75,000 m2 to 60,000 m2, 20% less. In 2011, 150,000 professionals will attend the trade fair and for the first time, doors will also be opened for the general public on the fair’s last day, on Saturday 21^st.

The focus is on renovation

This edition focuses on renovation. The Spanish Deputy Minister for Housing, Beatriz Corredor, explained at Construmat’s official opening that more than 50% of Spanish housing facilities are more than 30 years old. Therefore, despite the crisis affecting the real estate market and in particular new housing promotions in suburban areas or small cities, the house renovation market is going through a good moment. Construction companies are turning to renovation now that new flats and houses are difficult to sell.

This year’s edition has also sustainability, innovation and internationalisation as the other main themes. The first two are very much related to renovation, to upgrade old houses and flats with innovative materials and techniques, adapted to new rules and sustainability criteria, such as security, energy efficiency and recycling. 

Internationalisation is also another strategic drive of the 2011 Construmat. Emerging markets such as Brazil, Morocco and China are present. The first Spanish-Brazilian Construction Forum is also organised, to profit from the South American giant’s impressive economic growth. 

Construmat will be also held in China

Between the 11^th and 13^th July 2012, in Beijing’s China National Convention Centre, Construmat will gather together more than 200 companies at its first edition in China. The Chinese sister event will be held every year, due to the astonishing increase in the Chinese construction market, which is growing annually by between 20% and 30%. The Chinese flourishing middle-class is in need of new housing with high-quality details.  This market is mainly looking for high quality products, such as sanitary equipment, windows, ceramics or innovative materials, as flats in China are regularly sold without floors, kitchen furniture, or bathroom equipment. Sometimes they do no even have windows or doors, only the walls, the roof and basic pipe installations. Around 80 companies of the current Construmat have already shown an interest to participate in the Chinese fair. The plan is to bring together Chinese companies with Catalan and Spanish businesses, in order to increase exchange, trade, and open the Chinese market. The Catalan President, Artur Mas, stated in Construmat’s opening that Catalan construction companies need to go abroad, to emerging markets, as “ours is a small market” compared to theirs.