The rise of prefab concrete

According to the ‘Sector of heavy precast concrete products in Poland 2025-2030’ report, the combined revenues of the 50 largest precast manufacturers in 2023 came to PLN 5.8 bln, with prefabricated elements accounting for 63 pct of this total. This implies that the value of the heavy precast concrete segment reached nearly PLN 3.7 bln in 2023. In 2024, the market reached approximately PLN 3.8 bln. In the coming years, an increasing share of the market will be driven by precast elements used in civil engineering projects.

Based on preliminary data, Spectis estimates that the precast market grew by around 4 pct in nominal terms in 2024, lifting its value to over PLN 3.8 bln. When compared to the total construction and assembly output generated by companies with more than nine employees, this represents a slight increase in market share from 2.3 pct to 2.4 pct. Nevertheless, this remains significantly below the record level of 3 pct reached during the highly favourable market conditions of 2022.

The market's relatively lower value in 2023-2024 was the result of two key factors: a reduced volume of orders and a decline in average unit prices for precast elements, driven largely by falling steel prices — steel being one of the main cost components in precast production.

Spectis forecasts that in 2025, the market will experience a marked acceleration in nominal growth, allowing it to exceed the PLN 4 bln threshold once again. This rebound will largely reflect improving conditions in both residential and civil engineering construction segments. Continued market expansion is also anticipated in 2026, when a new wave of construction investment is expected to materialise.

Structural elements remain the backbone of the heavy precast market

Structural products used in building construction, which include sill plates, pad footing, columns, beams, girders, and stairs, continue to be the largest segment of the heavy prefabrication sector. However, due to a slowdown in the industrial and warehouse construction sector, this segment's market share has slightly declined.

The segment of floor slabs and balconies, which are used in both residential and non-residential construction segments, comes second in terms of size. The third-largest segment includes prestressed concrete railway sleepers. Ranking fourth in terms of market value are precast walls for building structures — a segment that has grown significantly in recent years, driven by the increasing popularity of modular construction.

Besides the main market segments, there are also several minor product specialisations represented by just one or two companies. Examples include bathroom modules, foundation piles, columns, lighting and electricity posts and towers, and products for agriculture. The rest of the market is divided among handling docks, bridge beams, platform slabs and platform walls, road and tram slabs, retaining walls, and sound barriers.

Growing potential for precast solutions in civil engineering construction

In the coming years, one of the most promising segments of the precast concrete market will be components used in civil engineering construction. This includes products such as prestressed concrete railway sleepers, railway slabs and walls, bridge beams, road and tramway slabs, foundation piles, power poles and transmission towers, as well as retaining walls.

Following a four-year decline in market share, the civil engineering segment regained momentum in 2023-2024, benefiting from the slowdown in the building construction sector.

Since a significant portion of demand for engineering precast products comes from the railway sector, Spectis analysts view the long-term outlook for producers in this segment as favourable. A key driver for the railway construction sector will be the implementation of the so-called railway component associated with the potential development of the Central Communication Port (CPK). The Polish government’s June 2024 decision to proceed with the High-Speed Rail initiative triggered a major revision of the list of Poland’s largest railway and tramway projects. As a result, the total value of 270 railway projects increased to PLN 200 bln, up from PLN 130 bln in the previous years.

Looking ahead, substantial growth is also expected in the segment of precast components for the energy sector, driven by Poland’s ongoing energy transition and infrastructure modernisation.