The worldwide roofing market is expected to reach €27.2 billion in 2026, representing 4.9% year-on-year growth in value, while volume is projected to increase by 3.2% as the US lacks behind in terms of growth. Despite economic uncertainty and shifting construction dynamics, the global roofing industry continues to demonstrate resilience, driven by innovation, price sensitivity, and structural changes in roof design. "While global demand for roofing solutions remains stable, Europe is currently the main growth engine of the market. Regulatory pressure related to sustainability and energy efficiency, together with the recovery of construction activity, is accelerating demand for innovative and multifunctional roofing systems," says Konstantinos Ioannou, analyst at Interconnection Consulting. From a regional perspective, growth trajectories differ significantly. Europe is expected to grow by 6.9%, supported by recovering construction activity and stronger regulatory demand for energy-efficient and sustainable roofing solutions. The United States is forecast to grow by 3% in 2026, driven mainly by non-residential expansion and renovation activity. The Middle East, with growth of 8.5%, benefits from large infrastructure projects and strong new construction momentum, while Asia is expected to expand by 2.8%, supported mainly by renovation projects and public-sector investment. Material trends further underline the transformation of the global roofing industry. While traditional materials such as concrete and bitumen show only modest growth, plastic and EPDM roofing solutions (7.6% increase in 2026 in quantity) are leading the market growth due to their durability, lightweight properties, and cost efficiency. Metal roofing (5.1% increase in 2026) also continues to expand, benefiting from recyclability and versatility, while non-traditional roofing solutions are gradually gaining share. Roof type preferences continue to favor flat roofing systems, particularly in commercial and industrial construction. Flat roofs account for 55.0% of installations in Europe, while inclined roofs represent 36.1% of the market. Innovation plays a central role in sustaining growth. Solar-integrated roofing systems (10.1% increase in 2026 in quantity) are expanding rapidly, supported by rising energy costs and sustainability targets, while green roofs (7.1% increase in 2026) continue to gain traction in urban and commercial developments. Growth is primarily supported by urbanization, strong support of the renovation sector and intensive activity in the non-residential sector. Looking ahead, the roofing industry globally will increasingly become a game of margins and innovation. Cost-efficient products and multifunctional solutions are expected to shape supply. The total market is forecast to reach €33 billion by 2029, growing by an average of 6.2% per year. Despite its size, the global roofing market remains highly fragmented, with competition driven by price competitiveness and supply chain relationships. Key industry players include Atlas Roofing Corporation, Bauder, Carlisle, Etex, Holcim, IKO, Kingspan, Lindab, Mapei, Owens Corning, Saint-Gobain, Sika, Soprema, Standard Industries, Tamko Building Products, and Wienerberger.

The boating industry is trying to strengthen its presence on social media to reach new audiences and support a generational shift in its customer base. However, many brands appear to be running aground in this effort. Boat and yacht brands achieve an average social media engagement rate of just 1.3%, according to the study “Social Media Insights – Boating Industry 2026” by Interconnection Consulting. By comparison, other luxury industries achieve engagement rates of around 3% on average, more than double the level seen in boating. Engagement simply measures how often people interact with a post—by liking it, commenting on it, or sharing it—compared with the number of people who see it. Instagram remains the main platform for boating brands, with almost all companies actively using it. On average, the brands analyzed have around 174.5 thousand followers, significantly lower than the 956.9 thousand followers typically seen among luxury brand accounts. One reason is the lack of differentiation, as many brands publish similar highly polished images that make it difficult to stand out. Other platforms remain less developed. Only around 30% of the analyzed brands use TikTok actively, while YouTube is often used mainly for product presentations or boat tours. However, YouTube shows strong potential, with audience retention rates between 60% and 75%, indicating that viewers are willing to watch longer boating content when it is engaging. Interaction levels remain a key challenge. Social media algorithms increasingly reward comments and conversations, yet the analyzed brands generate an average of only 6.1 comments per post in Instagram and 3.9 in YouTube, which limits organic visibility and makes it harder for content to reach wider audiences. The analysis also highlights brands that perform particularly well on specific platforms. On Instagram, Azimut clearly stands out, achieving engagement rates well above the industry average thanks to frequent posts, diverse content, and targeted paid campaigns across Meta platforms. On YouTube, Sunseeker delivers some of the strongest results, generating high view numbers despite not having one of the largest subscriber bases, supported by a balanced mix of shorter and longer video formats. “The boating industry has clearly embraced social media, but many brands are still using these platforms as digital brochures rather than as spaces for real conversation,” explains Rubén Eduardo Rodríguez, author of the study at Interconnection Consulting. “In a sector driven by aspiration and lifestyle, the brands that succeed online will be those that move beyond polished images and start building genuine dialogue with their audiences.” Despite generating €25.5 billion in revenue in 2025, the boating sector is still struggling to define a clear digital strategy capable of attracting new audiences and sustaining long-term growth. As social media increasingly shapes how luxury brands are discovered and perceived, companies now face a decisive moment. Those that succeed in turning passive viewers into engaged communities will ultimately set the course for the sector’s future. The study reviews several well-known companies in the sector, including Azimut, Bavaria, Beneteau, Brunswick, Ferretti Group, Hanse Yachts, Princess Yachts, Sanlorenzo, Sunseeker, and Yamaha Boating, which together represent a significant share of the global boating market. Copyright: Interconnection Consulting. Publication free of charge for coverage regarding the study and Interconnection Consulting.

While residential construction as a whole remains under pressure, the prefabricated house segment has seen a strong recovery – with further growth potential in the coming years. The segment recorded volume growth of +6.5 percent in 2025. A further increase of +3.5 percent is forecast for 2026, and in terms of value, the market is expected to grow by as much as +6.5 percent, according to a study by Interconnection Consulting. Catch-up effects increase the proportion of prefabricated houses The recovery is largely attributable to a strong catch-up effect (2024: -21.9 percent): postponed construction projects were increasingly realized in 2025, significantly increasing the proportion of prefabricated houses. In 2025, this figure already stood at 33.5 percent, up from 25.3 percent in 2024. The outlook remains positive in the long term: Interconnection Consulting expects average volume growth of +5.9 percent per year for the period from 2025 to 2029. “The German prefabricated house market will prove its resilience in 2025 and 2026. Shorter construction times, high standardization, fixed price guarantees, and growing demand for efficiently planned living concepts will strengthen the segment's appeal in the long term,” explains Johannes Lözelt, author of the study. Structural shifts are shaping the market However, there are clear structural shifts: single-family homes continue to dominate with an 82.2 percent market share, but are losing ground. Two-family homes exceeded the 11 percent mark for the first time with 11.3 percent, and row houses increased their share to 6.5 percent. Price development stabilizes After sharp price increases of +7.3 percent (2023) and +8.5 percent (2024), price momentum has slowed significantly. In 2025, growth was moderate at +2.8 percent, and +2.9 percent is expected for 2026. The total market reached a volume of €5.46 billion in 2025, up 9.5 percent on the previous year. Timber Frame construction unchallenged Timber Frame construction clearly dominates the market: almost nine out of ten prefabricated houses are built using this method. There is also a clear trend in terms of construction stages: more than four out of ten prefabricated houses are built on a turnkey basis – with further growth potential in the coming years. Increasing market concentration The competitive environment is showing signs of increasing market concentration. While the top 10 remained virtually unchanged in terms of value, the top 5 in particular were able to significantly expand their market shares. The largest suppliers in 2025 include – in alphabetical order – Allkauf, Bien-Zenker, Danwood, Finger Haus, Hanse, Kampa Haus, Massa, OKAL, Schwörer, and Weber. While residential construction as a whole remains under pressure, the prefabricated house segment is developing into a clear anchor of stability – with further growth potential in the coming years.

After two years of decline, the European Sandwich Panels market is starting to grow again, driven by an increase in renovation projects and a solid level of new investments in 2025. According to the study “IC Market Tracking – Sandwich Panels” by Interconnection Consulting, market volume remained nearly stable in 2025 (-0.3%), while value grew by 1.5%, indicating early signs of recovery. The outlook is more positive, with volumes expected to grow by 2.8% and value by 5.2% in 2026, supported by stronger demand and a shift toward higher-quality solutions. Growth across Europe remains uneven, reflecting the fragmented recovery of the construction sector. Poland led with a 5.3% increase in volume, driven by thermal modernization and stricter energy standards, followed by Slovakia (+2.7%) and Switzerland (+2.8%), both supported by renovation and stable demand. In contrast, Austria declined sharply (-8.1%) due to a construction slowdown, while Germany (-2.1%) and Hungary (-2.1%) were affected by weak investment and cost pressures, although stabilization is emerging. Demand is concentrated in industrial and logistics applications, with warehouses and production facilities representing 58.1% of total volume and remaining stable despite challenging conditions. Along with cold storage, these segments proved resilient. In contrast, cyclical sectors such as shopping malls, agriculture, and healthcare, education, and leisure buildings declined due to reduced investment activity. Key trends include rising demand for energy-efficient and compliant solutions, increasing use of mineral wool (28.8% share), and the continued dominance of PUR/PIR panels (69.0%), reflecting their strong performance in insulation efficiency. Steel price fluctuations continue to impact costs, particularly as steel represents over 94.9% of cover material usage. Pricing remained largely stable across Europe, with price increase of around 1–2%. Only Germany recorded a slight decline (-1%), while the UK showed the strongest increase (+4%). Overall, stabilizing input costs and subdued demand are intensifying competitive pressure. The European market is moderately consolidated, with the top six players holding 48.5% share. Large groups leverage scale, while regional firms compete through flexibility and local proximity. Key companies include ArcelorMittal, Brucha, Falk, Gór-Stal, Isolpack, Isopan, Italpannelli, Izopanel, Kingspan, Lattonedil, Marcegaglia, Metecno, Pruszynski, Romakowski, Ruukki, Tata Steel, and Trimo. “After two years of decline, we are seeing the first signs of stabilization. The recovery will be gradual, driven by energy efficiency, stricter regulations, and the need for safer and more sustainable buildings,” explains Robert Lukac, author of the study. Overall, the market is expected to return to gradual growth from 2026 onwards, exceeding 135.6 million square meters by 2028, driven by sustainability trends, regulation, and construction sector developments.