Upcoming Trade Shows in Sweden for Building & Construction

As Sweden's building and construction industry confronts economic headwinds, the landscape is undergoing a transformation marked by shifts in investments, inflation and government priorities. After witnessing a sustained period of rising construction investments, the industry is grappling with a rapid change in economic conditions. The surge in inflation, coupled with escalating costs for materials, fuel and electric power are putting the brakes on any new construction. The notable uptick in interest rates are certainly not helping the sector maintain its trajectory. The trajectory of total building investments, which exhibited robust growth for several years, is now reversing. Projections indicate a cooling down, with an anticipated decrease of 10%. Within the realm of civil engineering investments, an overall decline of approximately 2% is expected in 2023. Interestingly, this unfolds as a two-tier development: private civil engineering investments are poised to increase by 2%, while public civil engineering investments are projected to decrease by 4%. In a strategic move in June 2022, the government greenlit a new national plan for transport infrastructure spanning from 2022 to 2033. Valued at SEK 799 billion, this comprehensive plan allocates SEK 437 billion for investments, SEK 197 billion for roads' operations and maintenance and SEK 165 billion for railway operations and maintenance. The newly elected government, assuming office in October 2022, has opted not to pursue high-speed rail plans. Instead, the focus lies on climate-smart commuting and freight traffic. This translates to prioritizing reinvestments and maintenance of existing railways to align with sustainability goals. If we look at investment indices, the Swedish Transport Administration's index for railways saw an 11.1% increase, while the road investment index surged by 18.6% in 2021-2022. Notably, the road investment index’s spike can be attributed largely to a sharp increase in oil prices, given the significant role of oil and bitumen in road construction costs.