D&RI100: The world’s largest demolition contractors

Photo: Liberty Industrial

While global markets continue to shift, the 2025 D&Ri100, reporting 2024 turnover, shows that the world’s leading demolition contractors collectively grew their revenues to $8.98 billion, up 8.2% from $8.29 billion in 2023.

This growth came despite rising costs, inflationary pressures, and uneven construction activity, highlighting the sector’s resilience, operational adaptability, and ability to respond to evolving demands though performance varied across individual companies.

Demolition sector resilience

The near $690 million increase in combined turnover demonstrates how top demolition firms have successfully leveraged strategic opportunities despite broader market challenges.

While global construction activity slowed in key regions, the sector’s overall growth reflects its essential role in infrastructure renewal, urban redevelopment, and sustainable construction practices.

North American contractors continued to benefit from strong public-sector spending, although it remains to be seen if this will hold up.

Meanwhile, European firms continue to adapt to stricter environmental regulations and sustainability mandates.

Emerging markets in Asia and South America also showed rising demand, driven by industrial expansion and urbanisation.

Regional differences

Europe remains the largest regional contributor, accounting for 50.22% of total 2024 turnover, although it should be pointed out that this figure has fluctuated in recent years and is at its lowest since 2023.

Firms such as Ferraro Group (Germany), Hagedorn Unternehmensgruppe (Germany), and Max Wild (Germany) highlight the region’s focus on technologically advanced, environmentally conscious demolition.

Investments in material recycling, low-emission machinery, and structural analysis services have positioned European contractors as leaders in sustainable demolition practices. Meanwhile, the lack of regulations in North America means their counterparts are not as far down the road.

Photo: Max Wild

North America has remained largely stable in terms of representation in the top 100 in recent years, and that is what we find here.

Companies in the region contribute 42.53% of the 2024 total, supported by federal infrastructure programmes and large-scale public projects.

U.S. firms such as North Star, Penhall, and Brandenburg Industrial Service Co exemplify the sector’s focus on both large industrial demolitions and government-backed work.

There is also a new entry from California-based Integrated Demolition, which goes straight in at 25.

Canadian contractors, including Priestly Demolition and Murray Demolition, also maintained solid performance despite regional market fluctuations.

The rest of the world accounted for 7.27% of total turnover, reflecting emerging opportunities in markets including South America and Asia.

Companies such as Chile’s Flesan and Brazil’s Fabio Bruno Construcoes are capitalising on industrial closures and urban expansion, often integrating advanced safety and asbestos detection technology into their operations.

Argentina-based Grupo Mitre is also a new entry for the region, placing inside the top 80.

Elsewhere, there are two new Russia-based firms on the list, with Volgaspectory (35) and Likvidator (68) both posting strong 2024 results.

Notable changes

2024 saw several companies achieve remarkable growth. Max Wild surged 39.9% to $274.4 million.

MGL Demolition in the UK reported a 60.8% increase, reflecting strategic diversification and fleet modernisation.

Dickson Company in the U.S. pivoted successfully towards federal and state-funded contracts, posting a 66.4% rise in turnover.

Conversely, some firms faced headwinds from project delays or higher operating costs. Notable declines included Keltbray (-9.5%) and Brandenburg Industrial Service Co (-10.8%), highlighting the continuing challenges of balancing operational scale with market volatility.

However, some results should be treated as anecdotal due to lack of data, meaning estimations were required.

Outlook for the demolition sector

Despite inflationary pressures, many contractors managed to maintain or improve profitability through strategic project selection, operational efficiency, and adoption of sustainable demolition techniques.

The sector’s continued growth signals a robust underlying demand for demolition services, particularly in infrastructure renewal, urban redevelopment, and environmentally conscious construction.

Looking ahead, contractors are expected to further diversify project portfolios, invest in fleet modernisation, and expand into emerging markets.

As urbanisation accelerates in Asia and South America, and sustainability regulations tighten in Europe, the sector is well positioned to combine technical expertise with environmental stewardship, ensuring its critical role in the global construction ecosystem.

However, as recent lists have shown, an increase in revenues could be more a sign of resilience than prosperity. Nevertheless, the sector delivered a strong performance in 2024, with prospects for continued growth in the year ahead.

Note: The full D&RI100 will be published in the Q4 issue of D&RI.