World’s top ten construction contractors 2021

The world’s top 200 construction contractors according to sales figures for 2020 have been revealed in the latest issue of International Construction magazine. Despite the list being comprised of construction contractors’ sales figures for 2020 the total is similar to last year’s table, which compiled sales figures for 2019 – a world before Covid-19.

The total for this year’s list is US$1.746 trillion. This is very close to the figure last year, which was US$1.744 trillion. Due to the impact of Covid-19, it was thought that sales for the top 200 construction contractors would decline.

Top ten construction contractors in the world

10. Hochtief

With sales of US$26.1 billion, the German-based construction contractor keeps its place at number ten from last year’s list, despite seeing a decline in sales

9. Shanghai Construction Group

Also occupying the same position as last year is the Shanghai Construction Group, with sales of US$33.4 billion. The contractor is the first – but by no means last – Chinese-based construction contractor in the top ten of this year’s list.

8. Bouygues’ Construction Divisions

As a general rule, Chinese construction contractors saw sales increase in 2020 and European-based ones saw sales fall. This is the case with Bouygues, with sales dropping to US$39.6 billion – although the French company hold onto the number eight position.

Despite Covid-19, construction work has continued in large parts of the world

7. ACS

Spain-based ACS only just keep its position at number seven with sales of US$39.8 billion – in the scheme of the ICON top 200 a wafter-thin margin from Bouygues one place below. On the last table ACS had sales of US$43.7 billion.

Vinci is working on the Grand Paris project

6. Vinci

Vinci make it three European companies in a row, with sales of US$50 million – a decline from last year’s figure of US$54.6 billion. The company is the highest non-Chinese construction contactor on the list, despite dropping a place from last year to number six.

5. Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC)

Moving up one place from number six to number five is Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC). The construction contractor saw sales increase to US$57.6 billion which was comfortably enough to see it leapfrog Vinci.

4. China Communications Construction

Staying at number four in the list is China Communications Construction, with sales of US$90.4 billion, a large increase from last year’s figure of US$80.7 billion.

3. China Railway Construction Corporation

China saw construction equipment sales increase around 30% in 2020 from strong numbers in 2019 as the government used stimulus measures to boost the economy through infrastructure projects. One of the key aspects of this is high-speed rail, and the China Railway Construction Corporation saw an increase of sales to US$131.3 billion.

2. China Railway Group

The second placed construction contractor on the ICON top 200, China Railway Group, also saw a jump in sales, from US$124 billion to US$141 billion. On last year’s table, China-based companies contributed sales of US$631 billion – this figure has increased to US$697 billion.

China has invested heavily in high-speed rail infrastructure

1. China State Construction & Engineering (CSCEC)

The number one construction contractor on the list remains China State Construction & Engineering, with the company seeing sales increase from US$203 billion to US$220 billion. The country’s domestic focus on infrastructure, alongside the ever-popular Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), played key roles in the company’s strong increase in sales.

To view all 200 construction contractors on the list and read the full analysis click here.