The annual ICPI industry sales survey, released July 9, showed an 11.8 percent increase in segmental concrete paving production in 2013 for the U.S., expanding from 414 million to 463 million square feet. In Canada, segmental concrete paving production increased by 9.9 percent from 72 million to
79 million square feet.
Photo: Pavestone

Improvement in new home construction, accelerating existing home sales, rebounding public construction spending and an increase in commercial construction contributed to a steady growth year for the U.S. and Canadian segmental concrete pavement industry in 2013, according to a new survey by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute.

"The construction industry is experiencing an economic recovery that supports the expansion of our market share in residential applications," ICPI Chairman David Pitre said in a statement. "The growth rate is even higher in commercial and municipal applications."

The total 2013 U.S. and Canadian segmental paving market was estimated at 542 million square feet. At 75 percent of all sales, the residential market continues to be the primary driver for segmental concrete pavement sales. Commercial sales, which includes municipal and industrial, claimed a three percent increase in market share over 2012, reaching 25 percent of the total market in 2013.

"Reaching 25 percent commercial sales is a key success indicator for ICPI in reaching its vision," Pitre said. "It demonstrates that ICPI is delivering on it mission to increase awareness, acceptance and use of segmental concrete pavement systems in North America."

Permeable interlocking concrete pavement continues to be a high growth product as a means to meet national, provincial, state and local stormwater runoff regulations. Thirty-eight percent of PICP sales occurred in the residential market in 2013, a 13 percent increase year-over-year that can likely be attributed to the increasing popularity of municipalities issuing credits or reimbursements to homeowners reducing impermeable surfaces with PICP. Represents 2 percent of the total segmental concrete pavement production in the U.S. and Canada

Respondents to this year's survey, conducted by Industry Insights, included 33 manufacturing companies, of which 78 percent reported double-digit growth, averaging 11.5 percent over last year. The 2014 survey reports on 2013 sales data and generates an annual composite average estimate from the universe of paver manufacturers.

Concrete Pavers

• Estimated 542 million square feet (50.4 million m2)
• 11.5 percent increase over 2012