20 Largest Construction Companies in Brazil
Hotels, buildings, transport, stadiums. Brazil is a country in the works, and this is perceived by the construction sites everywhere. This article brings the largest companies responsible for this phase.
Civil construction by itself is responsible for around 5% of the Brazilian Gross Domestic Product. Composed also by other areas of construction, such as infrastructure, this type of business involves a large amount of investments and money.
According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, IBGE, 12 Brazilian companies are responsible for almost 30% of all the infrastructure works in the country. Together, they generate a total amount of BRL 286.6 billion.
The list below brings more information about the 20 largest companies acting with construction, in general. Since there are many publications citing the largest companies of this sector every year, the list below is not necessarily a ranking. Instead, it brings a general idea of which groups own the largest shares of the construction business.
1. Oderbrecht
Headquarters: Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Main activities: Civil construction, infrastructure, several industries, oil and gas, insurance
One of the biggest holdings in Brazil, Oderbrecht closed 2012 with a gross revenue of BRL 9.74 billion. It was founded in 1944 as a construction company by Norberto Oderbrecht, becoming big enough to employ around 140,000 people in Brazil. Among the famous works realized by the holding is the Arena Corinthians, the soccer stadium located in São Paulo, host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening match.
2. Camargo Corrêa
Headquarters: São Paulo, São Paulo
Main activities: Civil construction, infrastructure, naval industry, energy, clothing
This holding also operates in several areas, and generated a gross revenue of BRL 5 billion in 2012. Founded in 1939, Camargo Corrêa was responsible for important works in Brazil, such as the second largest hydroelectric plant of the world: Itaipu, in the frontier between the state of Paraná and Paraguay.
3. Andrade Gutierrez
Headquarters: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
Main activities: Civil construction, infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, logistics
Andrade Gutierrez had a gross revenue of BRL 4.6 billion in 2012. It has constructed different types of ventures, including soccer ventures, subway lines, airports, and power plants. It was founded in 1948.
4. Queiroz Galvão
Headquarters: Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Main activities: Civil construction, infrastructure, oil and gas, environmental engineering
The company was founded in 1953 in the northeastern state of Pernambuco. Queiroz Galvão group had a gross revenue of BRL 3.93 billion in 2012, due to different works. It is also responsible for some developments in places other than Brazil, like Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.
5. OAS
Headquarters: São Paulo, São Paulo
Main activities: Civil construction, infrastructure
One of the most recently founded construction companies among the giants of this sector, the OAS was born in 1976 in the state of Bahia. Among its most important works are the subway lines in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, as well as soccer stadiums, and some of the main airports of the country. The OAS had a gross revenue of BRL 3.92 billion in 2012.
6. MRV Engenharia
Headquarters: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
Main activities: Civil construction
Focused especially on the selling of habitations to classes C and D, this company was founded in 1979. Having constructed Real Estate in more than 120 municipalities, MRV had a gross revenue of BRL 2.57 billion in 2012.
7. Galvão Engenharia
Headquarters: São Paulo, São Paulo
Main activities: Civil construction, infrastructure, electricity, oil and gas
Founded in 1996, this company has shown an impressive growth throughout the years. It was responsible for projects of great importance, such as highways, subway lines, and, also, the controversial Belo Monte hydroelectric plant, in the state of Pará. Galvão finished 2012 with a gross revenue of BRL 3.13 billion.
8. Construcap
Headquarters: São Paulo, São Paulo
Main activities: Civil construction, infrastructure, electricity, oil and gas
Originating from a fusion between construction and engineering companies, Construcap registered a gross revenue of BRL 1.98 billion in 2012. It is responsible for building stores for large supermarket chains in the country, train lines, highways, and power plants.
9. A.R.G.
Headquarters: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
Main activities: Civil construction, infrastructure
The A.R.G. group has counted companies like Petrobras, Vale, Gerdau, and OSX as among its clients. Founded in the late 1970s, A.R.G. participated in the building of important infrastructure works, such as the Brazilian ports. In 2012, the gross revenue of this company was of BRL 1.85 billion.
10. Egesa
Headquarters: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
Main activities: Infrastructure, environmental engineering, oil and gas
This company is focused especially on engineering and heavy construction, participating in works such as highways and gas refineries. The company was founded in 1962, and had a gross revenue of BRL 1.52 billion in 2012.
11. Racional Engenharia
Headquarters: São Paulo, São Paulo
Main activities: Civil construction, property management
This company was founded in 1971, and has been responsible for the construction of hospitals, shopping malls, universities, theatres, and event ventures ever since. Racional had a gross revenue of BRL 1.4 billion in 2012.
12. Cyrela
Headquarters: São Paulo, São Paulo
Main activities: Civil construction
Cyrela was founded in 1962, but its construction branch appeared just in 1981. This company is focused on Real Estate and on building residential spaces. It has businesses in 16 Brazilian states, obtaining a net revenue of BRL 1.48 billion in 2012.
13. Direcional Engenharia
Headquarters: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
Main activities: Civil construction
This company operates in nine Brazilian states and was founded in 1981. It does business, mainly, in the area of residential spaces, having closed 2013 with 4.26 million square meters built and a total of 69 constructions.
14. Gafisa
Headquarters: São Paulo, São Paulo
Main activities: Civil construction, property management
Another company focused on the construction of Real Estate, Gafisa was founded in 1954. It has delivered more than 1,000 ventures, and had a net revenue of BRL 1.32 billion in 2012.
15. Brookfield
Headquarters: São Paulo, São Paulo
Main activities: Civil construction, property management
The Brazilian branch of the multinational company has a strong participation in the construction of shopping malls, office buildings, and residential spaces. The Brookfield brand was assumed in 2009, being the company that is formerly known as Brascan. In 2012, it had a gross revenue of BRL 737 million.
16. Tecnisa
Headquarters: São Paulo, São Paulo
Main activities: Civil construction
Tecnisa was created in 1977, working in different areas, such as construction and sales. Even though this company has smaller profits than others that do other business, with oil and gas, for example, it is, nonetheless, widely known in Real Estate market. In 2012, it delivered a total of 2.99 billion square meters, registering a gross revenue of BRL 294 million.
17. Mendes Júnior
Headquarters: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
Main activities: Infrastructure, oil and gas, several industries
Founded in 1953, heavy construction is the main expertise of this company. Mendes Júnior was responsible for the construction of important Brazilian highways, bridges, refineries, and other industrial complex. In 2012, it had a gross revenue of BRL 1.33 billion.
18. Via Engenharia
Headquarters: Brasília, Distrito Federal
Main activities: Civil construction, infrastructure
Via Engenharia is the only company from the Brazilian capital city in this list. It started building small residential spaces. After that, it developed into the big company responsible for JK Bridge in Brasília, one of the city’s postcards. Via Engenharia was founded in 1980 and had a gross revenue of BRL 1.32 billion in 2012.
19. Carioca Engenharia
Headquarters: Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Main activities: Infrastructure, civil construction, several industries
Carioca Engenharia is another example of a company that began building houses, and, nowadays, builds ports. Responsible for the International Airport of Rio de Janeiro and various subway lines throughout the country, the company had a gross revenue of BRL 1.24 billion in 2012.
20. WTorre Engenharia
Headquarters: São Paulo, São Paulo
Main activities: Civil construction, logistics, infrastructure, industries
This company was created in 1981 and has been under the spotlight recently due to its participation in the construction of shopping malls, docks, and the soccer stadium of the Palmeiras team. WTorre closed the year of 2012 with a gross revenue of BRL 1.13 billion.