2008 Media Releases & Alerts
NAHB Research Center Study Explores Growing Market for North American Building
Product Manufacturers in China
New Survey Will Measure Building Products Usage in China’s Growing Housing
Market; Provide Insight into Chinese Builder Preferences and Potential Market
Opportunities.
January 24, 2008, Upper Marlboro, Md. - As uncertainties mount about the
duration of the U.S. housing market slowdown, China’s residential boom is still
moving ahead at full speed accounting for about 100 billion square feet per
year. This represents a meaningful avenue for growth for North American
manufacturers. To investigate this opportunity, the NAHB Research Center will
launch its second China Builder Practices Survey this spring to gather
data on the characteristics and volume of building materials used in new home
construction for key cities in China, such as Beijing and Shanghai. Currently
the only independent, comprehensive study of Chinese builder preferences and
purchasing habits, the Research Center’s data will help product manufacturers
and suppliers make strategic decisions for business expansion in the Chinese
building market.
The NAHB Research Center, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Association
of Home Builders, is a leader in research and development for the home building
industry. One of its signature research projects—the Annual Builder Practices
Survey—provides extensive data about the size, style, type, volume, and other
characteristics relative to the materials used in new and existing American
homes and serves as the basic blueprint for the China survey. The unbiased data
collected in this study will allow product manufacturers to:
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Research the Chinese market’s need for new products
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Analyze trends to facilitate expansion into China
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Plan sales strategies for entering new markets
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Track quantities of building materials used in China
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Understand the purchasing trends that affect their business
Economic growth is still very strong in China and provides a potential life raft
for North American building material producers. Michael Luzier, president of
the NAHB Research Center said, "The size of the new home market in China is
impressive and presents enormous business opportunities for North American
manufacturers who are ready and willing to explore that market for building
products. This survey will shed light on the relatively untapped potential of
China’s burgeoning housing industry. It may be just what manufacturers are
looking for in the current market."
The China Builder Practices Survey will investigate the volume of construction
materials—such as windows, insulation, exterior doors, roofing, wood products,
concrete, and others—used in four representative Chinese metropolitan areas.
Although the China survey is based on its American counterpart, the questions
and processes are customized to the Chinese market and home builder activities.
The NAHB Research Center’s culturally-diverse staff, including native Chinese
researchers, will conduct the study throughout 2008 working in conjunction with
Chinese academics, architects, and construction engineers. The resulting data
will be provided initially to project sponsors and then made available for sale
to other interested building product manufacturers. The Research Center
conducted its last China Builder Practices study in 2004.
Manufacturers, suppliers, and industry groups interested in taking an active
part in this survey effort should contact Ed
Hudson, director of Market Research, at (800) 638-8556, ext. 6305.
01/08
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