Global Fiber Cement

Report Overview

This study analyzes global demand for fiber cement. Historical demand (2008, 2013, and 2018) and forecasts for 2023 and 2028 are provided for fiber cement demand by application (in metric tons and dollars) and market (in metric tons). Fiber cement demand is also provided on a country-by-country basis (in metric tons), broken out both by product and market. Demand in value terms is shown at the manufacturers’ level and excludes distributor and retailer markups.

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Applications & Markets

Applications for fiber cement as broken out by this study include:

• roofing
• siding (cladding)
• backerboard
• moulding and trim
• other applications, including ceilings, countertops, firestop materials, interior wall panels, pipe, porch ceilings, and sound suppression boards

The residential building and nonresidential building segments are analyzed at the global, region, and country levels. Breakouts are provided for new and renovation demand for both residential buildings and nonresidential buildings.

Regions & Countries

Fiber cement demand by application and market are provided for 19 countries, including:

• North America (United States, Mexico, and Canada)
• Central and South America (Brazil)
• Western Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom)
• Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland)
• Asia/Pacific (China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Australia)
• Africa/Mideast (Iran, Turkey)

Global demand for fiber cement is forecast to rise 2.6% annually through 2023 to 31.8 million metric tons, driven by:

• growth in nonresidential building construction, especially in India and China
• an acceleration in the global rate of advance in new home construction
• increases in fiber cement’s share of the global siding market, especially in the United States
• rising personal incomes, which allow for greater spending on building renovation projects that use fiber cement products

However, fiber cement will be remain a niche building material in most applications as it continues to compete against a wide variety of other materials.

Key Findings in the Global Fiber Cement Study:

Roofing & Siding to Remain the Leading Fiber Cement Applications

Roofing will continue to account for the largest share of fiber cement demand through 2023 due to its popularity in India, Brazil, China, and other developing countries in the Asia/Pacific and Central and South America regions, where the material has historically been used because of its relatively low cost and durability. However, fiber cement roofing is seeing rising competition from bituminous and tile roofing in these areas due to decreasing use of asbestos and rising income levels.

In contrast, fiber cement siding – the second most used fiber cement product – is expected to gain share from other siding materials, particularly in higher income countries such as the US. In these areas, fiber cement will be increasingly chosen as a siding material because of its ability to mimic more expensive natural wood, brick, and stone more effectively than vinyl. Additionally, fiber cement offers superior performance over these products, including better durability and lower maintenance requirements.

Use of Cellulose & Additives in Fiber Cement to Grow

Asbestos was once commonly used in fiber cement production around the world, but demand has steadily decreased as governments – most recently in Brazil – ban its use due to health concerns. While asbestos will continue to be used in developing countries where it is still legal, such as India and China, many manufacturers are turning to alternatives like cellulose. Cellulose is the most common substitute for asbestos due to its low cost, wide availability, and good performance.

Fiber cement manufacturers are also expected to increase their use of high-value proprietary additives to improve the performance of their products and give them a competitive edge. Use of additives – such as to improve colorfastness and durability – is especially important in developed markets, where fiber cement is becoming a higher value alternative to traditional siding materials such as vinyl.

Study Coverage

This Freedonia study analyzes the $28.1 billion global fiber cement industry. It presents historical demand (2008, 2013, 2018) and forecasts for 2023 and 2028 by application (roofing, siding, backerboard, moulding and trim, and other applications) in metric tons and US dollars, and by market (residential and nonresidential buildings) and region (North America, Central and South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia/Pacific, and Africa/Mideast) in metric tons. Fiber cement demand by application and market are provided for 19 countries. In addition, the study analyzes company market share for companies such as Elementia, Etex, James Hardie, KMEW, Nichiha, Shera, and others.