Grupo ACS closed the first six months of the year with solid growth. The group, led by Florentino Pérez, reported sales of 15,415 million euros, a net profit margin of 15.6%, and earnings of 330 million compared with the same period the prior year.
Concessions were the standout segment, delivering the strongest profit growth, rising 91% to 79 million euros. The main construction division contributed 170 million in profits, up 8% from the first half of 2021. The services segment generated 16 million in profits, modestly higher than last year by 2 million.
According to the press release issued by ACS, the most notable recovery occurred in highway traffic. Abertis is now above pre-pandemic levels and has boosted the Group’s net profit by 27 million euros. In addition, the construction arm announced the sale of a 25% stake in photovoltaic plants to Galp. In construction, Dragados and Hochtief benefited from a revival in activity, along with a favorable shift in the dollar exchange rate.
DHW reported geographic distribution of sales with 61% in North America, 22% in the Asia-Pacific region, 10% in Spain, and 6% in Europe. Its portfolio stands at 69.397 billion euros, up 15.7% from the previous year, or 6.5% when exchange rates are adjusted.
Spanish construction companies around the world
ACS, Acciona, Ferrovial, FCC, Sacyr, OHLA, and San José again appear among the top global construction groups based on turnover, according to a Deloitte report. The leading position belongs to the Pérez-led group, which finished with a turnover of 32,932 million euros and ranked 12th overall, behind a mix of Chinese, French, and Japanese players [Deloitte report].
Across the global ranking, eight Chinese companies hold the top ten places, with only two French firms resisting the surge. Acciona climbs from 39 to 36, Ferrovial rises from 42 to 40, FCC from 42 to 43, and Sacyr from 59 to 55 in 2020 standings. OHLA remains at 74, while Grupo San José moves up to 96th from 99th in 2020 [Deloitte ranking update].
The seven named companies together posted approximately 68,332 million dollars in additional revenue, about 3.8% of total global industry sales. Analysts from Deloitte note that the industry faces ongoing challenges such as supply chain disruptions, material shortages, and skilled-labor constraints that are driving construction costs higher across markets. These trends highlight the importance of strategic asset management and project portfolio optimization for large groups operating internationally [Deloitte global perspective].