The U.S. chemical building materials industry is expected to gradually recover by 2026.

Recently, several U.S. building materials and chemical companies have projected that, driven by improved mortgage rates and a recovery in market confidence, the U.S. construction industry, particularly the renovation and repair market, is expected to rebound by 2026, with demand for chemical building materials gradually stabilizing.

Executives at James Hardie, a global leader in fiber cement building materials, stated during an earnings call that demand for construction-related chemical products is stabilizing. The company is simultaneously targeting both new home construction and the repair and renovation markets, benefiting from recovering consumer confidence, the release of pent-up demand, and declining mortgage rates. Data shows that on February 12, 2026, the U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rate stood at 6.09%, significantly lower than previous highs and consistently remaining below 6.2% throughout the year. Renovation and remodeling demand is particularly strong in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the U.S. Although the new housing market continues to be constrained by high inventory, market sentiment has improved, and contractor confidence has rebounded. The company plans to focus on building materials such as decks and railings.

DuPont's Chief Financial Officer noted that the U.S. construction market has shown signs of stabilization after years of decline. The chemical giant expects growth in the maintenance sector, with construction-related businesses experiencing a slight dip early in the year but gradually improving over the course of the year, potentially ending flat overall.

Advance Drainage Systems (ADS), a U.S. manufacturer of piping and water management systems, pointed out that the recovery in multifamily and single-family housing development has driven sales improvements in some regions, with the Atlantic Coast and Southeast performing relatively well. However, the DIY home improvement market remains weak. The company is enhancing profit stability by optimizing its product mix and reducing reliance on raw material price fluctuations, emphasizing that housing starts and demand are also critical factors influencing pricing and profitability.