Construction end market check-in: 2025 Backlog and momentum indicators

After a year marked by tariff retaliation, price volatility, and data center expansion, it’s worth stepping back to assess where the building and construction end market stands heading into 2026.

With official government data on residential construction still arriving unevenly, and with non-residential construction carrying greater relevance for aluminum demand, this review focuses on private, non-residential indicators that provide a view of how 2025 unfolded.

Nicholas Bell

Nicholas brings over half a decade of experience covering metals markets, pricing trends, and supply chain dynamics. Prior to joining AMU, he reported on aluminum, high-temperature scrap, and ferro-alloy markets at Argus Media, with additional coverage of minor metals and rare earths. His work has built deep expertise in North American metals pricing and trade flows. A native of Houston, Nicholas holds a bachelor’s degree in Media Production and an MBA with a concentration in Finance, both from the University of Houston.