In 2024, real estate developers in China completed ****** million square meters of floor space, representing a significant drop of almost ** percent from the previous year. Housing completion figures in China have generally decreased over the last decade, owing to structural challenges in the real estate industry. The ups and downs of the Chinese real estate market Following the marketization of the housing sector in the late *****, China's real estate industry has enjoyed more than two decades of prosperity. The output value of the sector multiplied several times, with home prices rising sharply across the country and some properties in urban centers such as Beijing and Shanghai being among the most expensive in the world. While being a pillar industry in the country’s economy, the real estate sector has also stimulated the development of many related industries, such as construction and financial services. The property bubble and unfinished buildings The former expansion of the housing market had created a considerable bubble in the sector, which finally burst during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many apartments, especially the tower blocks in small or medium-sized cities and towns remained unsold or left unoccupied, leading to financial turmoil for real estate developers. The failure of major market players such as China Evergrande and Country Garden resulted in more than a million unfinished apartments in China.

In 2023, the average price of real estate in China was approximately ****** yuan per square meter, representing a decrease from the previous year. Rising prices in the real estate market Since the 1998 housing reform, property prices in China have been rising continuously. Housing in the country is now often unaffordable, especially considering the modest per capita income of Chinese households. Shanghai and Beijing even have some of the most competitive real estate markets in the world. The rapid growth in housing prices has increased wealth among homeowners, while it also led to a culture of speculation among buyers and real estate developers. Housing was treated as investments, with owners expecting the prices to grow further every year. Risk factors The expectation of a steadily growing real estate market has created a property bubble and a potential debt crisis. As Chinese real estate giants, such as China Evergrande and Country Garden, operate by continuously acquiring land plots and initiating new projects, which often require substantial loans and investments, a slowdown in property demands or a decline in home prices can significantly affect the financial situation of these companies, putting China’s banks in a vulnerable position. In addition, due to a lack of regulations and monetary constraints, the long-term maintenance issues of high-rise apartments are also a concern to the sustainable development of China’s cities.

Chinese housing prices rose by over 10 percent per year in real terms between 2003 and 2014 and are now between two and ten times higher than the construction cost of apartments. At the same time, Chinese developers built 100 billion square feet of residential real estate. This boom has been accompanied by a large increase in the number of vacant homes, held by both developers and households. This boom may turn out to be a housing bubble followed by a crash, yet that future is far from certain. The demand for real estate in China is so strong that current prices might be sustainable, especially given the sparse alternative investments for Chinese households, so long as the level of new supply is radically curtailed. Whether that happens depends on the policies of the Chinese government, which must weigh the benefits of price stability against the costs of restricting urban growth.

The bubble alumina market is projected to grow from a value of 111.3 billion in 2025 to 207.8 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.00 % during the forecast period. Bubble alumina is a lightweight, porous material characterized by its high strength and thermal conductivity. It is widely utilized in various applications, including refractories, firing beds, abrasives, and others. Key drivers fueling the expansion of the bubble alumina market include rising demand from the construction and automotive industries, increasing adoption in high-temperature applications, and government initiatives promoting energy efficiency. Segment-wise, the refractories segment held the largest market share in 2025, owing to the high demand for bubble alumina in the production of refractory bricks and linings. The abrasives segment is anticipated to witness significant growth during the forecast period due to the increasing use of bubble alumina in grinding, polishing, and blasting operations. Regionally, Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the bubble alumina market throughout the forecast period, primarily driven by the rapid industrialization and construction activities in the region. Recent developments include: November 2020: The Aluminium Corporation of China Ltd. (Chalco) alumina refinery in Huasheng, China, has started its second production line. With the help of the new manufacturing line, the company will produce more alumina, strengthening its position in the market.. Notable trends are: Increasing demand for high-purity grades is driving the market growth.

Ratios of the average commodity building price to the average monthly salary per capita from 2001 to 2014 in Beijing and Shanghai in China*.

Portugal, Canada, and the United States were the countries with the highest house price to income ratio in 2024. In all three countries, the index exceeded 130 index points, while the average for all OECD countries stood at 116.2 index points. The index measures the development of housing affordability and is calculated by dividing nominal house price by nominal disposable income per head, with 2015 set as a base year when the index amounted to 100. An index value of 120, for example, would mean that house price growth has outpaced income growth by 20 percent since 2015. How have house prices worldwide changed since the COVID-19 pandemic? House prices started to rise gradually after the global financial crisis (2007–2008), but this trend accelerated with the pandemic. The countries with advanced economies, which usually have mature housing markets, experienced stronger growth than countries with emerging economies. Real house price growth (accounting for inflation) peaked in 2022 and has since lost some of the gain. Although, many countries experienced a decline in house prices, the global house price index shows that property prices in 2023 were still substantially higher than before COVID-19. Renting vs. buying In the past, house prices have grown faster than rents. However, the home affordability has been declining notably, with a direct impact on rental prices. As people struggle to buy a property of their own, they often turn to rental accommodation. This has resulted in a growing demand for rental apartments and soaring rental prices.