Global trends

摘要

The 2014 league table of global contractors is based on revenues achieved in 2013. These came to US$ 1,625 billion, a record total, and the twelfth straight year the Top 200 has grown. The graph illustrates the revenue and profitability trend for the Top 100 going back a decade. This year the group had revenues of US$1,386 billion, and a margin of 4.7%. Although the revenue trend has always risen throughout the 12-year history of the Top 100, this year's growth of some +7.3% has been the most pronounced for two years. The last similar leap - in the 2011 figures, based on 2010 revenues - was driven by the Chinese stimulus boom. This points to a surge in global activity, as does the improvement in margin to 4.7% from last year's figure of 4.4%. While the ebbs and flows of the global industry seem to be indicated by the size of the leap in the Top 100's revenues, as the graph illustrates, profitability moves more directly with activity levels.