Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Melbourne, Australia
Last Updated: October 2024
ANZSIC E3109Revenue
$64.9bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$X.Xbn
Employees
81,254
Businesses
7,817
Wages
$XX.Xbn
Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction in Australia industry analysis
Work on landmark railway developments, renewable power generation infrastructure and water and sewerage facilities has underpinned the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction industry’s recent expansion. These projects have helped cushion the industry from subdued investment in resource developments in the shadow of the 2013-14 mining boom and the completion of massive LNG projects in northern Australia. The effective completion of the NBN rollout in 2020 also dampened activity in the telecommunications market.
Trends and Insights
- Railway and renewable energy infrastructure construction has surged to record heights on the back of public and private investment. Public-private partnership arrangements have paved the way for greater private equity in public infrastructure.
- Heavy industrial mineral and energy project construction slumped following the completion of major LNG projects in northern Australia. Still, construction activity is expanding on iron ore projects in Western Australia and coal and gas developments in Queensland.
- Construction activity is skewed towards the resource-rich states. Western Australia alone accounts for one-fifth of industry activity. Still, the state’s share has contracted from a 2015-16 peak in mine and pipeline developments at the height of the resources boom.
- Competition is mainly based on a reputation for quality, timeliness and budgeting. Infrastructure projects are primarily constructed directly for the user, meaning the finished quality is often more important than the overall price consideration.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $64.9bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Landmark railway projects have put contractors on track for growth
- Civil construction contractors have benefited from unprecedented public and private investment in landmark railway projects. This reflects an injection of public capital expenditure during the COVID-19 pandemic and the adoption of public-private partnership (PPP) funding arrangements for public transport infrastructure.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
The brakes have been put on railway developments
- Revenue generated from railway infrastructure construction will fall from a 2023-24 historical peak in response to the scheduled completion of several landmark passenger rail developments.
Biggest companies in the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
CIMIC | 7,930.0 | |
John Holland | 3,052.0 | |
Downer | 2,369.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Heavy industrial construction, Electricity infrastructure construction and Telecommunications infrastructure construction. Heavy industrial construction is the largest segment of the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Heavy industrial construction is on the rebound
- While heavy industrial mining and energy infrastructure construction generates the largest portion of industry revenue, its share had steadily fallen to a deep trough following the completion of large-scale LNG plants in northern Australia.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Road and Bridge Construction in Australia
- Structural Steel Erection Services in Australia
- Engineering Consulting in Australia
- Commercial and Industrial Building Construction in Australia
- Institutional Building Construction in Australia
International industries
- Transmission Line Construction in the US
- Heavy Engineering Construction in the US
- Water & Sewer Line Construction in the US
- Oil & Gas Pipeline Construction in the US
- Wind Turbine Installation in the US
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Industry companies primarily construct engineering projects or infrastructure, such as railways, dams, irrigation systems, harbour and river works, and water and gas supply systems. Projects also include oil refineries (excluding buildings); pipelines; on-site boiler assembly, furnaces or heavy electrical machinery from prefabricated components; and general repairs of such structures, machinery and equipment.
What's included in this industry?
Heavy industrial constructionElectricity infrastructure constructionTransport infrastructure constructionWater and sewerage infrastructure constructionTelecommunications infrastructure constructionPipeline constructionSports stadiums constructionDefence installationsRefineriesIntegrated manufacturing plantsCompanies
CIMICJohn HollandDownerPurchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP)RENEWABLE ENERGYENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTIONWET HIREDRY HIREIndustry Code
ANZSIC 3109 - Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction in Australia
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Railway and renewable energy infrastructure construction has surged to record heights on the back of public and private investment. Public-private partnership arrangements ha...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Heavy industrial mineral and energy project construction slumped following the completion of major LNG projects in northern Australia. Still, construction activity is expandi...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Construction activity is skewed towards the resource-rich states. Western Australia alone accounts for one-fifth of industry activity. Still, the state’s share has contracted...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Competition is mainly based on a reputation for quality, timeliness and budgeting. Infrastructure projects are primarily constructed directly for the user, meaning the finish...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Companies that focus on the fast-growing rail and renewable power markets have significantly boosted their revenue. Problems stemming from technical complexities in large win...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of CIMIC's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of John Holland's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Downer's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for CIMIC, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for John Holland, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Downer, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The industry derives stimulus from increasing public sector capital expenditure on water supply, electricity, railway and telecommunications infrastructure. Growth in private...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Record construction activity in the railway and renewable energy generation markets has allowed some contractors to widen profit margins without jeopardising their cashflow. ...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Australia include:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction industry in Australia in 2024?
The market size of the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction industry in Australia is $64.9bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction in Australia industry in 2024?
There are 7,817 businesses in the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 5.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction market in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction market in Australia are CIMIC, John Holland and Downer
What does the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction in Australia include?
Heavy industrial construction and Electricity infrastructure construction are part of the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in Australia is CIMIC.
How competitive is the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction industry in Australia?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction industry in Australia.
