Aluminum Curtain Wall Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2034

The global aluminum curtain wall market size accounted for USD 32.1 billion in 2022 and it is expected to hit around USD 83.56 billion by 2032, poised to grow at a CAGR of 10.04% between 2023 and 2032. Rising construction activities in developing countries are boosting the growth of aluminum curtain wall market.

Key Takeaways:

• Asia Pacific dominated the market and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 11.50% from 2023 to 2032.
• North America is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2023 to 2032.
• By type, the unitized segment generated for more than 61% of the total market share in 2022. 
• By type, the stick-built segment is growing at a remarkable CAGR. 
• By application, the commercial segment dominate the market and it is projected to grow at a noteworthy CAGR.
• By application, the residential segment is expected to hold a significant market share from 2023 to 2032.

Aluminum Curtain Wall Market Overview:

Aluminum curtain walls are panels framed in a light-weight material that are utilized to wrap a building structure from the outside. The technique of aluminum curtain wall combines windows and framing to eventually create a single facade. The application of aluminum curtain walls enhances the energy efficiency of the building. 

Aluminum curtain walls adequately address structural integrity, thermal insulation, condensation, weather tightness and fire safety. At the same time, the recent developments in the global aluminum curtain wall market are focused on addressing bomb blast resistance, sound transmission and hurricane-borne debris resistance. The advancements in aluminum curtain wall frames have brought an innovative function, acoustic insulation. 

Acoustic insulation plays an essential role in structures installed at city-center commercial buildings by reducing sound penetration into the enclosed space. Aluminum curtain walls offer modern expression to the building structure. The modern and innovative aluminum curtain walls have high design freedom and can be customized accordingly. 

The aluminum panels for curtain wall installment are placed with chemical, adhesive or mechanical bonding on the exterior part of the building. Aluminum curtain walls play the primary function of keeping water and air out of the building structure while enhancing the lifespan of the building. The rising trend of modernizing the building’s exterior look is propelling the growth of the global aluminum curtain wall market. 

Growth Factors:

The rising demand for improving the outer look of commercial buildings in order to maintain the aesthetic is observed as a significant driver for the growth of the global aluminum curtain wall market. The functional and visual comforts offered by the aluminum curtain wall systems are honored to be the major driving factors for the development of the market. Rising industrialization in developing countries is another factor to boost the aluminum curtain wall market growth. 

Aluminum offers sustainability, which makes it an ideal element for curtain walls. Moreover, the rising construction activities are contributing to the demand for aluminum curtain wall systems. Aluminum curtain walls regulate the temperature of the building, and rising climate change concerns are boosting the demand for advanced solar screen-based aluminum curtain walls in the market. 

Along with this, aluminum curtain walls effectively protect the building from adverse weather conditions such as heavy rains, humidity and penetration of excessive sunlight. The development of recyclable aluminum curtain wall frames is fueling the development of the global aluminum curtain wall market by offering lucrative opportunities to the market players. 

However, the lack of professionals, designers and installers for the installation of aluminum curtain wall systems may hinder the growth of the global aluminum curtain wall market. Moreover, limited standard certification of the raw material acts as a restraining factor for the market’s growth. Factors such as complexity in design, high installation and maintenance costs and risk of poor adhesion hamper the market’s growth.  

Aluminum Curtain Wall Market Scope:

Aluminum Curtain Wall Market Dynamics:

Driver:

Increasing manufacturing of customized aluminum curtain walls 

Aluminum curtain walls offer design freedom, and the rising number of retrofitting of aged residential buildings has provoked the demand for customized aluminum curtain walls. According to the report published by Green Alliance Org., at least eleven million homes in the United Kingdom are suitable for retrofitting. Moreover, to meet the requirements for energy efficiency, many people are refurbishing homes/buildings. 

Such buildings need custom-made curtain walls to enable the consumers’ preferences and to add an excellent architectural signature to the building. Multiple large-scale manufacturing companies in the global aluminum curtain wall market are focusing on producing customized curtain walls to meet consumer requirements; this factor propels the market’s growth.  

Restraint:

Lack of skilled professionals

The installation of aluminum curtain walls is a complex and time-consuming procedure, including sealing, fastening and other fixing steps. However, the installation process requires expertise in the field for proper planning, selection of materials and professional execution of the curtain wall system. Skilled professionals are needed for the installation due to the rapid innovation in the fastening process. Lack of qualified professionals for the procedure either results in denied or delayed installation of aluminum curtain walls or offers an uncertain product outcome. Thus, the shortage or lack of skilled and trained personnel in the field hampers the market’s growth.

Opportunity:

Rising construction of commercial buildings  

The rising industrialization, especially in developing countries, demands the construction of commercial buildings to manage the operations of industries. For instance, industrialization in China is growing at a noticeable rate; the country currently holds 28.7% of global industrialization output. Commercial buildings have an enormous demand for curtain walls to wrap the building from the outside. 

The rising construction of commercial buildings will increase the demand for aluminum curtain wall installation. Emerging economies in developing countries will boost construction activities, which will subsequently fuel the demand for aluminum curtain walls. The rising demand is expected to force the market players to develop advanced aluminum curtain wall frames to stay competitive in the market.

Covid-19 Impacts:

The sudden outbreak of coronavirus started in Wuhan affected global industries adversely. Similarly, the global aluminum curtain wall market was adversely affected due to the coronavirus outbreak. The prolonged halt in manufacturing of aluminum curtain wall products impacted negatively on the market’s growth. Moreover, the shutdown of manufacturing industries resulted in a shortage of raw materials. China is the world’s largest aluminum producer, and the coronavirus outbreak in China paused export activities by disrupting the supply chain. Strict restrictions across the globe halted the new construction of buildings; this resulted in a declined demand for aluminum curtain walls. 

The shortage of workforce caused denied or delayed orders. The Covid-19 pandemic also resulted in postponed business activities such as product launches, mergers, acquisitions and partnerships. 

The development of aluminum curtain wall market is co-related with the global architecture and design market growth. The architecture industry suffered from a massive hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, considering the restrictions and continuously rising Covid cases, many countries such as India, the UK and the United States started finding local replacements for providing raw materials required in aluminum curtain wall production; this reduced their dependency on China for raw materials. The construction industry got a push as governments relaxed the restrictions. The uplift in the construction industry is expected to support the global aluminum curtain wall market to recover at a pace.  

Type Insights:

The semi-unitized segment accounts for over 61% of the total market share. The unitized aluminum curtain wall frames are interlocking units, and the installation process for unitized curtain walls takes less time. The rising demand for aluminum curtain walls from high-rise buildings such as malls, business hubs and other commercial centers is observed to boost the growth of the unitized segment. The unitized segment offers the advantages of high quality and easy installation.  

At the same time, the stick-built segment in the type of aluminum curtain walls is growing at a significant rate. The stick-built aluminum curtain wall structure is installed in pieces, and the stick-built aluminum curtain wall frames are lightweight and need low shipping costs. The segment's growth is attributed to the adventitious factor that allows onsite adjustments. However, the installation procedure for stick-built curtain walls takes time; this hampers the segment's growth.

Application Insights:

The commercial segment leads the market, and it is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. The rising demand for commercial centers, including entertainment and shopping complexes and even business centers is supporting the growth of the commercial segment. Along with this, the rapidly growing industrialization is considered a significant factor in propelling the growth of the commercial segment. The rising construction activities in the commercial segment are driven by the growing tourism and hospitality businesses across the globe.  

Moreover, the residential segment is projected to hold a significant market share during the forecast period. The growth of the residential segment is attributed to the rising construction of residential buildings, emerging economies in developing countries, and increasing disposable income in economically developed countries.  

Regional Insights:

Asia Pacific dominated the global aluminum curtain wall market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.50% during the forecast period. The easy availability of aluminum in several countries of Asia Pacific has boosted the market’s growth in the region. In 2021, India surpassed Russia in the production of aluminum. China and India are the most significant contributors to the aluminum curtain wall market development. Moreover, the rising construction activities in Japan for new commercial and industrial buildings are observed to boost the demand for aluminum curtain wall installation.  

Another largest market for aluminum curtain walls, North America, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% during the projected timeframe. The rising allocation of budget construction projects in Canada by the private sector is projected to fuel the growth of the aluminum curtain wall market in North America. Rising corporate centers in Boston and New York are supplementing the market’s growth for the region. 

Dubai is emerging as a significant business hub. The rising construction for commercial buildings in Dubai is near gulf countries with growing demand for modernization of buildings, which will propel the growth of the aluminum curtain wall market in the Middle East. Moreover, the rising inclination towards utilizing low-cost metals in construction activities will increase the demand for aluminum curtain wall installation in Latin America.

Recent Developments:

• In October 2022, a proposal intended to facelift the Chadwick House, an iconic royal building on Warrington’s Birchwood Park. The proposal aims to improve the appearance of the building along with its thermal performance. The proposed work for Chadwick House includes the replacement of existing curtain walls with a new double-glazed ppc aluminum curtain wall system. 
• In October 2022, Overhead Door launched a new EverServe aluminum model for glass doors. The new mode by Overhead Door provides maximum light infiltration and eliminates the need for counterbalance. This model is considered to be a premier solution for commercial buildings. 
• In June 2021, Washington-based Milgard Windows & Doors launched a new AX550 moving glass walls in custom sizes for both new construction and replacement purposes. The new AX550 features a modern aluminum frame with sightlines available in four colors. It also has a thermally broken aluminum design. 
• In March 2021, the European market leader in aluminum solutions, Reynaers Aluminum, announced the opening of three new showrooms in Iasi, Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara. With the introduction of three new showrooms, the company aims to achieve a new strategy in architectural development. The company has extended its product portfolio with the latest range of accessories along with its original curtain walls, doors and windows.  
• In December 2021, DMB Global Inc signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 60% controlling interest in Arcadia Inc, a leading supplier of architectural building products, including framing systems in the U.S. market. DMC planned to purchase a 60% interest in Arcadia for $285.2 million. 
• In April 2022, a prominent manufacturer of aluminum composite panels in India, Alstone, launched a premium range of aluminum cladding solutions. This cladding solution by Alstone aims to change the exterior look of buildings.  
• In June 2023, Western Window Systems unveiled new products that were added to its portfolio of windows and doors at the NAHB International Builder’s Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The company launched innovative aluminum products to fulfil the demand of the architectural community.  

Aluminum Curtain Wall Market Companies:

Prominent companies in the global aluminum curtain wall market are-

• EFCO Corporation
• Hansen Group Limited
• Toro Group of Companies
• Alimicor Limited
• Sanwa Tajima Corporation
• Technal
• Alutech
• HUECK Systems GmbH 

Segments Covered in the Report:

By Type

• Stick Built
• Semi-unitized
• Unitized

By Application

• Commercial
• Residential

By Geography

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• The Middle East and Africa