Record turnover for Spanish construction companies in 2024: firms in the sector reached more than €55.6 billion in international markets, representing 25% of their total business. This milestone confirms the expansion capacity and competitiveness of Spanish companies beyond national borders.
This 12.6% growth compared to the previous year highlights the strength, ambition, and global outlook of Spanish construction firms. Internationalization is consolidating as the sector’s main growth driver, supported by data from the latest “Sectors: Construction” report by the DBK Sector Observatory of INFORMA.
A sector on the rise: national and global figures
Although construction output growth within Spain has slowed slightly, the sector continues to advance solidly. In 2024, it reached €165.1 billion, up 5.2% from 2023, when growth was 7.2%. In real terms, this variation represents a 3.5% increase, half a percentage point higher than the previous year.
Housing construction remains the most significant segment of the domestic market, valued at €92.45 billion, 3.6% more than in 2023, and accounting for 56% of total output. This growth is particularly relevant in a context marked by Spain’s housing shortage, a challenge recently highlighted by the International Monetary Fund, which has urged faster construction to meet growing demand.
Civil engineering, meanwhile, continues to be an important driver for the sector, boosting growth in the “other buildings and structures” segment, which rose 7.4% to €72.67 billion (44% of the total).
Internationalization: the key to growth
Foreign growth is the most noteworthy development for Spanish construction companies. In 2024, their international revenues exceeded €55.6 billion, an annual increase of 12.6%, confirming the commitment to foreign markets as a strategic path to overcome challenges and limitations in the domestic market.
This international expansion allows Spanish firms to diversify risks, access large-scale projects, and respond to growing global demand for sustainable and efficient infrastructure.
Sector structure: large groups and local companies
The Spanish construction sector is made up mainly of small, specialized, locally focused companies. In January 2024, there were nearly 95,000 active firms in the sector, 4.5% more than the previous year. Construction employment also rose, from 1.42 million workers in the first quarter of 2024 to 1.48 million in the same period of 2025.
However, the sector’s leadership rests with a few large publicly traded groups with a strong international presence. These companies account for 28% of the sector’s total revenues in Spain and, in terms of foreign business, capture more than 95% of international turnover, demonstrating their absolute dominance in global expansion. Their share of domestic production, by contrast, is much more modest—less than 5%.
Among them, ACS, Ferrovial, Acciona, FCC, Sacyr, and OHLA stood out in 2024, together surpassing €87.7 billion in revenues, with more than 80% generated in international markets. Their growth, particularly in the United States, Australia, and other key markets, reflects their commitment to sustainable, next-generation infrastructure, consolidating their global leadership and driving sector dynamism.
According to DBK’s analysis, the international success of Spanish construction companies is primarily based on their ability to compete in civil works and infrastructure, along with a strong commitment to innovation and sustainability. Growing demand in emerging markets and the transition toward greener models are opening new opportunities for the sector.
Even so, global expansion is not without challenges: from adapting to local regulations to managing geopolitical risks and the pressure to maintain margins in a highly competitive market.
Despite these obstacles, the Spanish construction sector is well positioned to continue growing both at home and abroad. The combination of large international groups with the dynamism of small and medium-sized companies creates a solid ecosystem, ready to face an increasingly demanding market.
