For ENR’s Top 400 Contractors, the construction market is going strong and predictions of a leveling off or even a decline have been premature. While many in the industry now believe the market will remain healthy for the foreseeable future, large contractors in the big-ticket international oil-and-gas and mining markets did take another hit in 2016—although most are weathering that storm.
Last year was a strong one for the Top 400, which generated a record $366.41 billion in contracting revenue, an increase of 6.5% from 2015’s $344.14 billion. However, the real story is on the domestic side. Contracting revenue from U.S. projects rose a healthy 9.7%, to $322.83 billion, on top of a 9.5% rise in domestic revenue last year. On the other hand, non-U.S. contracting revenue plunged 12.5%, to $43.58 billion, in 2016, with the major declines noted in projects in the minerals-and-mining, petroleum and power sectors.