The global wall covering market (henceforth, referred to as the market studied) is segmented based on product, application, distribution channel, and region. Based on the type of product, the market is segmented into wallpaper, wall panel, ceramic tile, metal wall covering, and other products.

Uncertainty hovered over the Mexican economy in the latter half of 2017 and through the first half of 2018, mainly due to the renegotiation of NAFTA, trade-related actions from north of the border and the Mexican presidential elections in July that swept a populist into office. Despite the disconcerting conditions, the infrastructure industry continued to attract private investment although the country still faces an infrastructure spending gap estimated at US$544 billion. With budget austerity tying the government’s hands, it started exploring further options for PPPs, which could prove pivotal as President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador takes office at the end of 2018. AMLO, as the new president is known, has already stated his desire to work closely with the private sector to see through his ambitious development plans, all of which bodes well for the sector.

Impulsora Del Desarrollo Y El Empleo En America Latina (IDEAL) is a Mexico-based company, founded in 2005, which is active in the infrastructure construction segment. The company has a diversified portfolio of activities, including: road concessions with a total length of 1,436.5 km; electronic toll services; operation of two water treatment plants with a capacity of 36.27 m3 per second each; generation of hydroelectric energy at two hydropower plants with total capacity of 145 MW; and operation of three multimodal transport terminals located in Mexico City and the state of Mexico. In addition, the company manages two prisons located in the States of Chiapas and Morelos, under concession contracts .

The value chain of pre-engineered building market is characterized by the presence of raw material manufacturers/suppliers, pre-engineered building manufacturers, and contractors/erectors. The primary raw material used in the manufacturing of pre-engineered buildings (PEBs) is steel, which is obtained from steel mills. High-tensile steel is used for manufacturing the primary frame of PEB, whereas galvanized steel is used for the production of secondary components of the building, such as purlins and girts. The other steel variants used in manufacturing PEBs include hot rolled sections, sheeting coils, galvanized steel coil sheets, and hot rolled plates. Major companies providing steel products to PEB manufacturers include ArcelorMittal, China Baowu Group, Shagang Group, and Ansteel Group. PEB manufacturers procure steel products from different suppliers after taking quotations and performing quality checks.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on measures to build the Muganli-Ismailli (30 km) -Tezekand-Agbulag-Goshakend highway in Ismayilli region. - A new bridge will be built on the Azerbaijani-Russian border till the end of the year - According to the action plan drawn up by the Azerbaijani State Highway Agency, the Mardakan-Gala section of the Buzovna-Mardakan-Gala highway connecting three settlements has been restored - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order regarding measures to construct the Gizilhajili-Goranboy-Goran-Rahimli-Veyisli-Gazanbulag-Borsunlu road in the Goranboy district. Agreements with Azerbaijani officials for the connection of the Azerbaijani railway to the railway of Parsabad County of Iran's northeastern Ardabil Province have been reached - Over 200 Turkish-made buses are used in Azerbaijan's Sumgait city. - The production of Peugeot cars under the Khazar brand has been launched on the basis of the Neftchala Industrial Site

The attractiveness of Libya's infrastructure market to those international firms which had begun to return following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi was reversed over the course of 2014, with the industry contracting by 25% in 2015. We forecast that in 2018 the market will contract by a further 11.1%. Doing business in Libya will be extremely risky, given the presence of two rival governments and the increasing threat of violence from a large number of terrorist groups. As of end 2017, Libya's rivalling factions are no closer to a peace deal, and risks of clashes between eastern and western militias are elevated. We do not expect any major improvements to doing business in the country over 2017 or 2018. Contracts are often interrupted owing to the lack of a central administration and construction is frequently suspended owing to outbreaks of violence.

Near non-existent private investment in construction will contribute to the continued collapse of the construction industry value in 2019 and restrict growth in the following years. Private investment has declined sharply in recent years as a result of high political and economic uncertainty, materials shortages due to falling domestic production and severe import restrictions, as well as frequent government intervention in the economy which has soured private investor confidence. Bank lending for construction projects has also fallen sharply due to hyperinflation and a lack of profitable projects for willing lenders as a result of the country’s economic situation (see ‘Banking Sector: Venezuela's Banks Showing Few Signs Of Life’, November 30 2018).

The construction sector is one of the pillars of China’s economy, receiving strong support from the central government. The competitive landscape of the sector has not changed much in recent years. The largest players are domestic companies, which are showing a stable performance and are expected to strengthen their market positions further. Domestic construction predominates, even though enterprises are expanding overseas to enhance competitiveness and exploring new markets.

We forecast Bosnia-Herzegovina's GDP to grow 3% in 2018, 3.3% in 2019 and 3.5% in 2020, supported by investment in infrastructure, as well as private consumption and falling unemployment. After several years of fluctuating growth, Bosnia's construction sector will hold a moderate trajectory over the coming five years, supported by bilateral investment and structural reforms, as the country seeks to meet IMF loan obligations and to secure EU accession. Growth for construction will be 2.3% annually over 2018-2022, driven by transport and energy infrastructure investment. GFCF has potential to drive further economic expansion and contribute to construction growth, though given political uncertainty after and a relatively unwelcoming business environment, this will remain heavily dependent on external financing from institutions such as the IMF, EU or EBRD. Unfortunately, heightened political uncertainty following the October election poses a downside risk to the investment outlook. It is already unclear when the IMF will release the next tranche of its financing programme, with approval unlikely until a new government is in place.

Turkey’s construction sector has experienced rapid growth in recent years, driven by supportive government policy. The state has launched a series of large infrastructure projects and development programmes that have helped the industry become one of the main drivers of the country’s economic growth. In 2017, the construction sector expanded by 8.9% y/y in real terms and helped the economy withstand a series of external shocks, including an attempted military coup in July 2016. With the introduction of stimulus measures after the putsch, Turkish GDP growth accelerated to 7.4% in 2017, ranking the country among the fastest growing economies in the world.