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Site Preparation Services in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Anthony Kelly Anthony Kelly Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: January 2024 ANZSIC E3212NZ

Revenue

$4.4bn

2024-25

$4.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

11,884

Businesses

2,997

Wages

$X.Xbn

Site Preparation Services in New Zealand industry analysis

The Site Preparation Services industry is one of the largest in the Construction Services subdivision and is crucial in most building and infrastructure projects. It comprises many small-scale enterprises that contract to provide demolition, earthmoving, levelling and wet hire services. Core building and infrastructure market trends drive the performance of site preparation firms. These firms also generate substantial revenue from road and other infrastructure projects, and specialist services like demolition work and asbestos removal.
Revenue for site preparation services is expected to expand at an annualised 3.7% over the five years through 2023-24, to $4.4 billion. This includes an anticipated revenue contraction of 7.0% in the current year, as investment in new housing construction plummets following the hike in mortgage interest rates and less favourable bank lending conditions. The downturn in work on residential building projects is contributing to a slump in employment and profitability in 2023-24. Still, the industry's profit margin has widened over recent years, supported by favourable non-residential building and infrastructure construction trends.
Non-residential building construction rebounded from the dip in 2020-21 that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain robust growth through 2023-24. The lion's share of work on urban commercial and institutional building developments is undertaken by larger contractors that can deliver complex solutions to prepare site foundations for large structures. Larger site preparation contractors have also benefited from public funding for large-scale road and rail projects. Even so, the start-up and completion of large-scale developments have added to revenue volatility.
Site preparation contractors will continue encountering difficult conditions in the residential building market, corresponding with persistently high interest rates and subdued population growth. The Central Government’s (Te Kawanatanga o Aotearoa) support for housing developments will focus on delivering higher-density apartments and townhouses. Positive non-residential building and infrastructure construction trends will provide a bright spot for some site preparation contractors. Even so, revenue is forecast to contract at an annualised 0.3% over the five years through 2028-29, to $4.3 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • Climbing mortgage interest rates have contributed to a sharp decline in new housing construction and a slump in site preparation work on new subdivisions. The non-housing construction markets have provided the main source of demand for contracting services.
  • The slump in new housing construction has resulted in less site preparation work on building sites. Site preparation on residential building subdivisions involves land clearing, levelling work, soil stabilisation, ground dewatering and installing topographical features.
  • The Canterbury region is dipping in importance following the completion of much of the reconstruction work in the aftermath of the 2010-11 earthquakes. Nonetheless, the region’s employment remains well above its share of the national population.
  • Internal competition between site preparation contractors is high. Many contractors compete on price to win business, providing buyers with significant bargaining power.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $4.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Interest rate hikes have cut into housing construction activity

  • Climbing mortgage interest rates have weakened new housing construction activity, resulting in a slump in site preparation work on new subdivisions.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Site Preparation Services in New Zealand
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Revenue is set to dwindle as house construction activity weakens further

  • Contractors will encounter difficult conditions in the residential building market, with persistently high interest rates and the winding back of tax deductions on property continuing to choke off investment in new housing. Site preparation work on new subdivisions will contract alongside the dip in single-unit house construction.

Biggest companies in the Site Preparation Services in New Zealand

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($short_0)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Site Preparation Services in New Zealand industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Site Preparation Services in New Zealand
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Site preparation for building construction , Site preparation for infrastructure projects and Demolition work. Site preparation for building construction is the largest segment of the Site Preparation Services in New Zealand.

Trends and Insights

The slump in housing construction has driven down site preparation services for building construction

  • Work on housing and non-residential building construction represents the largest source of revenue for site preparation contractors. This share has contracted over recent years in response to the slump in new housing construction.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Site preparation contractors mainly undertake earthmoving work, which includes excavation, levelling construction sites, trench digging and overburden removal. Site preparation services also includes firms that provide building demolition services, and lease plant or equipment with an operator.

What's included in this industry?

Demolition of buildings or other structuresEarthmovingEarthmoving plant and equipment hire with operator (wet hire)ExcavationGround de-wateringLand clearingLevelling (construction sites)Removal of overburdenTrench digging

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

WET HIREDRY HIREOVERBURDENPUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPSUBDIVISIONSOIL STABILISATIONGROUND DEWATERING

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 3212 - Site Preparation Services in New Zealand

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Climbing mortgage interest rates have contributed to a sharp decline in new housing construction and a slump in site preparation work on new subdivisions. The non-housing con...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The slump in new housing construction has resulted in less site preparation work on building sites. Site preparation on residential building subdivisions involves land cleari...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Canterbury region is dipping in importance following the completion of much of the reconstruction work in the aftermath of the 2010-11 earthquakes. Nonetheless, the regio...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Internal competition between site preparation contractors is high. Many contractors compete on price to win business, providing buyers with significant bargaining power.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

No major companies operate in site preparation services. The industry is highly fragmented, comprising many small-scale site preparation contractors targeting limited geograp...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    Site preparation contractors have endured a slump in work on new housing subdivisions following the recent slump in residential building construction. The hike in interest ra...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Profitability has been climbing for contractors focusing on the non-residential building and infrastructure markets. Still, many smaller site preparation contractors have end...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Site Preparation Services industry in New Zealand in 2024?

    The market size of the Site Preparation Services industry in New Zealand is $4.4bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Site Preparation Services in New Zealand industry in 2024?

    There are 2,997 businesses in the Site Preparation Services industry in New Zealand, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Site Preparation Services industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Site Preparation Services industry in New Zealand has been growing at a CAGR of 3.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Site Preparation Services industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Site Preparation Services industry in New Zealand is expected to decline.

    What does the Site Preparation Services in New Zealand include?

    Demolition of buildings or other structures and Earthmoving are part of the Site Preparation Services industry.

    How competitive is the Site Preparation Services industry in New Zealand?

    The level of competition is high and increasing in the Site Preparation Services industry in New Zealand.

    Related Industries

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    Competitors

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    View all industries in New Zealand

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

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    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in New Zealand include:

    • Statistics New Zealand
    • New Zealand Company Register
    • Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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