6 surprise findings on the CE100 contractor list

Construction Europe has released its CE100 list of the largest European contractors by revenue.

While the top 10 remains relatively stable, some intriguing results can be found slightly further down the table.

Norwegian wood

The highest climber on the list, for example, is AF Gruppen from Norway, up 19 places to number 40. And the second-highest climber? Veidekke, also from Norway, up 15 places to number 26.

These two companies have excellent credentials in terms of sustainable construction – along with the country itself, which boasts the world’s tallest timber building – so this is surely testament to the fact that being green can also be good for business. 

The heavy hitters

The UK is notable as having the largest number of companies on the list by far, with 22. The next on the list is Spain, with 11.

That said, France, with only eight companies on the list, boasts a combined revenue of €130 billion, way in excess of the UK’s €78.6 billion. This comes in no small part as a result of France having three companies in the top 10 (Vinci (1); Bouygues (3); Eiffage (5)).

Germany has the largest construction output of any European country, so it seems surprising that there are just seven German companies in the CE100 list – and only one in the top 20 (Hochtief at number 4).

Europe’s highs and lows

After the two Norwegian companies, Spain’s Sacyr Vallehermoso is the highest climber in the top half of the list, up 12 places to number 21, while Italy’s Webuild is the highest climber in the top 20, up five places to number 19.

Webuild, formerly Salini Impregilo, continues to progress its Project Italy strategy, consolidating the Italian construction sector in an effort to help revive the economy; it appears to be working.

Harder times may yet be to come in Turkey, however, with all three of its CE100 companies losing ground and Tekfen Holding tumbling 21 places to 77th, making it the biggest faller on the list.

See the full CE100 list of companies here.