
China has the largest retail building construction market among the BRIC nations. China comprised 57.6% of the total BRIC market in 2011 and was followed by India with a 21.2% share, Russia, which accounted for 18.8% and Brazil, which constituted 2.4%. New construction activity occupied the highest share among all activities across all four countries. In Brazil, demolition activity also comprised a substantial market share as old buildings were demolished in order to build new infrastructure. Refurbishment activity accounted for the second-highest market share in Russia, India and China. In terms of retail construction growth rates on a year-on-year basis, all four markets recorded substantial growth rates before the global financial crisis of 2008. In comparison to figures from 2007, China grew by 401.5% in 2008, Brazil grew by 54.1%, India by 13.2% and Russia by 50.2%. In 2009, the Russian category recorded a decline of 34% over figures from 2008. However, in 2010 it recovered and is expected to post a growth rate of 18.2% in 2012. The Brazilian category also decelerated following the global financial crisis, however, unlike Russia, is expected to post a loss in 2012. In contrast, India was only marginally affected and continued to grow during the review period. The Chinese category was supported by infrastructure-related investments made by the government in late 2008 and grew as a result.