The US construction sector views the temporary tariff suspension on Canadian and Mexican imports favourably. The NAHB supports the 30-day pause but seeks a permanent solution for construction materials, fearing increased costs for essential resources like lumber. They advocate for material exemptions to prevent development impediments and increased housing expenses. Prior to the pause, Canada and Mexico committed to enhanced border security measures.

The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) celebrates a federal court ruling that nullifies President Biden’s 2022 executive order mandating project labor agreements (PLAs) on large federally funded projects. The court sided with construction companies, stating the PLA requirement violated competition laws by disqualifying contractors not entering into union agreements. ABC argues the policy inflated construction costs and favoured unionised firms, reducing competition. ABC contractors are advised to continue protesting PLA mandates on a case-by-case basis, anticipating similar outcomes.

Poland’s PGE has secured €400m in funding from the EIB to construct the Baltica 2 offshore wind farm, partnering with Ørsted. The total investment of €1.4bn, supported by InvestEU, REPowerEU, and the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, will enable the construction of Baltica 2 and 3. Baltica 2, slated for completion in 2027 with 107 turbines, and Baltica 3, with a 1GW capacity operational by 2030, will generate 1.5GW combined. This project will increase Poland’s renewable energy share, reduce emissions, and bolster energy security through innovative technologies.

Moeve, formerly Cepsa, will begin working on the first phase of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley scheme in Huelva, Spain, which will start up in 2026 and reach full capacity in 2028. The project, in association with companies like EDP and Fertiberia, aims to convert 2GW of wind and solar energy into 300,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually by 2030. Subsequent phases will be built in San Roque, near Gibraltar, with the plant expected to be operational in 2027. This initiative, supported by the Spanish parliament’s decision to not impose a windfall tax on green energy producers, is projected to create 10,000 jobs during its three-year construction period.

Thailand anticipates its $13 billion high-speed railway to China, traversing Laos, will be operational by 2030. This 609km twin-track line, connecting Bangkok to Nong Khai, aims to enhance Thailand’s role as a regional logistics hub with trains reaching 250km/h. China is designing the line and managing construction, while Thailand retains ownership and provides land and materials. The project, utilising Chinese Fuxing Series trains, is part of a broader plan for routes originating in Kunming and extending through Southeast Asia, despite being nine years behind schedule due to various delays.

A $2 billion LNG-fuelled power plant project in Vietnam’s Thai Binh province is set to commence construction in the fourth quarter of 2025, as reported by The Investor. The facility, developed by a consortium comprising Japanese utilities Tokyo Gas and Kyushu Electric Power, along with Vietnamese conglomerate Truong Thanh Vietnam Group, aims to contribute 1.5GW to Vietnam’s grid upon completion in 2030. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged expedited development to address Vietnam’s rapidly growing electricity demand, which increased by 11% between 2023 and 2024. This project, along with a similar initiative in Quang Ninh, represents Vietnam’s efforts to expand its power generation capacity and prevent future blackouts that have previously caused significant economic losses.

President Trump has announced a $500 billion private sector initiative to build next-generation AI infrastructure in the US, partnering with OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. This joint venture, named Stargate, aims to construct ten 500,000 square foot data centres and associated energy systems, potentially creating 100,000 US jobs. The project, already underway in Texas, reflects the increasing demand for data centres driven by AI advancements. Trump is expediting the project through emergency declarations, emphasising the importance of keeping AI development within the US.

Aurigo Software has launched Aurigo Lumina, an AI platform designed to improve how infrastructure owners manage and utilise critical capital program data. Lumina features Lumina GPT, which streamlines data and document searches using generative AI, and Lumina Analytics, which employs machine learning to enhance budget and schedule accuracy while proactively addressing risks. The company claims that Lumina is a “game-changer” because it transforms how owners leverage data through advanced insights, analytics, and AI-driven searches. Aurigo intends to expand the Lumina platform with more AI-powered products in the future.

Bouygues, a French company, is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its construction processes. The partnership aims to introduce cloud computing to Bouygues’ electrical engineering subsidiary, Equans. Together, AWS and Equans will launch “LegalAize,” a generative AI application designed to assist project management teams in contract analysis and risk identification. Bouygues anticipates that digital innovation will be crucial in maintaining its leadership and meeting the evolving needs of its customers.

The initial phase of Toyota’s “Woven City” project in Susono City, near Mount Fuji, has been successfully completed, featuring buildings designed by Bjarke Ingels and a masterplan by Nikken Sekkei. This development, announced at CES 2025 by Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, transforms a former R&D facility into a hydrogen-powered district serving as a living laboratory for AI-enhanced infrastructure. The first phase includes residences for 360 people, with an expected occupancy of 100 by autumn. Subsequent phases are underway, including the construction of a manufacturing hub, as the city aims to integrate housing, offices, and shops for 2,000 residents within a 70-hectare site.

China is planning to construct a large solar farm in space, an ambitious project likened to moving the Three Gorges Dam to geostationary orbit. The project aims to build a 1km-wide solar array that would collect energy at a rate ten times more efficient than Earth-based photovoltaic panels, converting it to microwaves for transmission to a collector station. Super-heavy rockets, such as the Long March-9, will transport the array’s components into position. China anticipates having the first operational example of this space energy system by 2035, with ongoing experimental projects and ground verification systems already demonstrating promising results.

Frontier-Kemper-Tutor Perini JV has been awarded a US$1.2 billion contract by the New York/New Jersey Gateway Development Commission (GDC) for the Manhattan Tunnel Project (MTP) in New York City. The MTP aims to construct a connecting section for the future Hudson Tunnel, linking New York City and New Jersey. This involves installing railway tubes from the Manhattan Bulkhead to the Hudson Yards Concrete Casing region, including both permanent and temporary tunnel sections. The project also includes designing and building an access shaft at 12th Avenue, which will be converted into a permanent ventilation facility.

A consortium led by Vinci subsidiaries has secured a €183m contract to construct a protected channel in the Seine River estuary, facilitating river boat access to the port of Le Havre. Known as “La Chatière,” the project involves building a 1.8km breakwater to shield cargo boats from rough seas, enabling more cargo to be transported via the Seine to the Paris region. Currently, 85% of seaborne cargo is transported inland by truck due to the river’s inaccessibility for much of the year. Construction is expected to be completed in 2027 after an initial six-month survey for unexploded ordnance from World War II.

Skanska has secured two significant bridge projects in the United States, totalling $670 million. The first project, valued at $450 million, involves replacing the structurally deficient Lindsay C. Warren Bridge in North Carolina with a modern, fixed-span bridge, with work commencing immediately and an expected completion date of April 2030. Additionally, Skanska won a $220 million contract for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Commodore Barry Bridge, which connects Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This project, slated for completion in the first quarter of 2028, includes extensive repairs, strengthening, and repainting to ensure the bridge’s longevity and operational efficiency.

Sir Robert McAlpine has been selected by Tata Steel to oversee the main civil, structural, and building works for its new low-carbon steel project at Port Talbot. The project, valued at £1.25 billion, involves constructing a new electric arc furnace and associated facilities within the existing steelmaking plant. This initiative follows the closure of Port Talbot’s last coke-fired blast furnace and is expected to take three years, with the main works commencing in the third quarter of this year. The new plant aims to recycle scrap to produce up to three million tonnes of steel annually, establishing Port Talbot as a leading centre for sustainable steel production.

Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Neom development has secured $3 billion in funding from Italian state-owned financier SACE, facilitating increased participation of Italian businesses in the $1.5 trillion project. This financial backing opens doors for Italian suppliers, contractors, and SMEs to engage in various aspects of the expansive development program. The partnership not only strengthens economic ties between Italy and Saudi Arabia but also aligns with SACE’s strategy to promote ‘Made in Italy’ exports and foster long-term growth. With Italian companies already having secured $6.3 billion worth of contracts in Neom, this latest funding agreement is expected to further bolster international trade and investment flows between the two nations.

Tanzania has entered into a $2.2 billion agreement with two Chinese firms, China Railway Engineering Group and China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group, to construct a standard gauge rail link connecting the port of Dar es Salaam to a nickel mine in Burundi. The 282-kilometer railway project, resulting from a bilateral agreement between Tanzania and Burundi, aims to enhance nickel export efficiency and facilitate cross-border trade between the two nations. Upon completion, the rail line is expected to transport 3 million metric tonnes of ore annually, linking the Tanzanian town of Uvinza with Musongati in Burundi, which is situated near significant mineral deposits including nickel, gold, and platinum. The African Development Bank will finance the project through a concessional loan, marking its first involvement in funding Tanzania’s railway initiatives.