The rankings are based on 2009 data compiled by Construction Times, a Shanghai-based industry newspaper, using an ENR-designed survey. The Top 60 Chinese Contractors list is based on companies’ total construction contracting revenue, both domestic and international. The Top 60 Chinese Design Firms list is based on each firm’s total design revenue, both domestic and international.

According to the survey, the top 60 China-based contractors generated a combined total of $303.4 billion in contracting revenue in 2009, up 27.6% from $237.8 billion in 2008. The the top 60 design firms had overall design revenue of $11.8 billion in 2009, up 22.6% from 2008’s figure of $9.6 billion.

Revenue for Chinese construction firms increased for projects both inside and outside of China. For contractors, the rates of increase were similar. Domestic revenue was up 27.3% to $277.4 billion, while revenue from projects outside of China increased 22.3% to $34.9 billion.

Design firms told a different story. While domestic revenue for the top 60 firms increased 19.9% to $10.3 billion, the group’s international revenue rose by an impressive 45.4%, from $1.04 billion in 2008 to $1.52 billion in 2009.

Increased revenue among the top 60 contractors can be seen across markets. Of the 10 markets measured, eight showed an expansion. The only markets to show a decline were hazardous waste (down 70%) and industrial processing (down 14%). The telecommunications market showed the largest percentage increase, rising 46%, while the general building and transportation markets accounted for the biggest increases in revenue.

As a group, the top 60 Chinese contractors marked a milestone in 2009: It was the first year they generated more than two trillion yuan ($301 billion). Just four years ago, the group passed the one-trillion-yuan mark. The large revenue increase among Chinese contractors can be attributed to recent big-budget construction programs such as China’s high-speed rail system, Expo 2010 Shanghai, the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games, rapid development in northern China and rebuilding after the earthquake in Sichuan province, according to Construction Times.

The top three ranked China-based contractors on the list were China Railway Construction Corp. Ltd., with $52.05 billion in 2009 contracting revenue; China Railway Group Ltd., with $52.02 billion; and China State Construction Engineering Corp. Ltd., with $33.19 billion.

The top three China-based design firms were China Chengda Engineering Co. Ltd., with $972.7 million in design revenue; Hydrochina Corp., which, at $972 million, was only $67,000 behind Chengda; and SINOPEC Engineering Inc., with $908 million.