Category: World Trade

World of Concrete 2026: Building the Future of Construction

The global concrete and masonry industries will converge in Las Vegas January 20–22, 2026, for the 52nd annual World of Concrete (WOC), with education sessions beginning January 19.

Last year, WOC drew nearly 58,000 professionals and more than 1,500 exhibitors across 750,000 square feet of exhibit space. Organizers say 2026 will offer an even larger platform for innovation, training, and networking, cementing its status as a must-attend event for construction professionals.

Exhibits and Innovations

The show will feature thousands of exhibitors across indoor and outdoor spaces, showcasing the latest products, equipment, and services.

Central Hall highlights include:

  • Material Handling: Equipment for trucks, excavators, and concrete placement.
  • World of Concrete General: Tools and services for commercial construction.
  • Work Truck LIVE!: Fleet solutions and productivity enhancements for Class 2–7 trucks.

North Hall will feature:

  • Producer Center: Equipment and software for ready-mix concrete.
  • Technology for Construction: Robotics, AI, software, and estimating tools.
  • Precast & Concrete Masonry: Blocks, pavers, and production equipment.
  • Cement Production Pavilion: Cement manufacturing, automation, and support services.

South Hall includes:

  • World of Masonry: Tools, products, and technologies for masonry professionals.
  • Concrete Repair & Demolition: Equipment for surface prep, grinding, and cutting.
  • Concrete Surfaces & Decorative: Products for coatings, surface protection, and decorative concrete.

Outdoor exhibits in the Silver and Bronze Lots will offer live demonstrations and hands-on experiences.

Competitions and Special Events

WOC 2026 will host events such as the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship, Masonry Skills Challenge, Toughest Tender, Fastest Trowel on the Block, and the Western Star Trucks Get Tough Challenge. Decorative Concrete LIVE! and the Decorative Concrete Experience will showcase products and innovations in decorative concrete. The SAIA Scaffold Builders Challenge offers crews a chance to demonstrate skills in a competitive setting.

Education and Professional Development

The WOC Education Program offers more than 160 sessions for all skill levels, including CEH-approved seminars, fast facts, workshops, and hands-on training. Attendees can earn the WOC Master Certificate (12 CEHs) or Emerging Leader Master Certificate (9 CEHs). Sessions will be offered in English, Spanish, and bilingual formats, with translation services in over 60 languages via the WORDLY platform.

Special events include Breakfast with the Experts, Concrete Polishing Luncheon & Forum, Quality in Concrete Slabs Luncheon, and 3D Construction Printing Luncheon & Forum. New sessions include “Engineering: Designing for Constructability” and “Bridging the Gap Between the General Contractor & Engineer.”

Supporting the Next Generation

WOC will host silent and live auctions for the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program, which has raised over $20 million to develop the next generation of concrete industry professionals.

Event Details

  • Exhibits: Jan. 20–22, 2026
  • Education: Jan. 19–22, 2026
  • Location: Las Vegas Convention Center

Early registration and hotel discounts are available through Dec. 12, 2025.

For more information, visit the World of Concrete website.

Global Trade Survey 2024: Worries and Optimism

For the third edition of the Allianz Trade Global Survey, the company asked over 3,000 companies in China, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the UK and the U.S .about their outlook for global trade in the year ahead. The survey found that exporters are more optimistic, but also more worried about geopolitical risks, shortages of inputs & labor and financing & non-payment risks. More details are available here.

World Trade Week 2024

New York Foreign Press Center Briefing on “Celebrating World Trade Month”

Transformation of Global Trade: Davos 2024

What are the trade and investment conclusions from the Annual Meeting? How will trade and trade policy develop over the coming year? How are emerging technologies transforming global trade?
The World Economic Forum is the international organization for public-private cooperation. The forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

New > Global Risks Report 2023

The Global Risks Report 2023, developed in collaboration with Marsh McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group, is part of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Initiative. The report details major risks the world will be facing in the coming years.

New Registration Open for WOC 2023 in Las Vegas

Jan. 16-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center

Part knowledge, part equipment, part connections—World of Concrete is 100% of what you need to keep grinding it out through disruptions to the supply chain, safety and beyond. Get your hands on advanced technology and machinery, access the newest training and techniques in concrete and masonry, and build momentum for another unstoppable year.

Original equipment manufacturers from around the world and exclusive U.S. distributors of equipment, tools, products and services for the commercial construction, concrete and masonry industries. WOC attracts approximately 1,500 exhibiting companies and occupies more than 700,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space.

More than 60,000 industry professionals from all around the world, representing all segments of the construction industry: Commercial Contractors, Concrete Contractors, Concrete Pumpers, Construction Managers, Dealers/Distributors, Decorative Concrete Contractors, Designers and Specifiers, General Contractors, Block/Segmental Unit Producers Masonry Contractors, Architects, Engineers, Block Producers, Ready Mix Producers, Rental Equipment Centers, Repair Contractors, Residential Contractors, Specialty Concrete Contractors, Precast, Pipe and Block Producers, Precast/Prestressed Producers, and more.

WOC 2023, will be held Jan. 17-19 (Education, Jan. 16-19) at the Las Vegas Convention Center. There is no onsite registration. All attendees must register online, before coming to the show to receive a printed badge onsite. Confirmation letters will contain a barcode to easily print out your badge once you arrive onsite.

Register now for World of Concrete 2023

Slowing Growth and the Risk of Stagflation 

Ayhan Kose, director of the World Bank’s Prospects Group, discusses how the war in Ukraine has compounded the damage left by the COVID-19 pandemic and magnified the slowdown in the global economy. The risk of stagflation is increasing with potentially harmful consequences for middle and low-income economies alike. Learn more from the latest edition of the Global Economic Prospects report, which projects that global growth will slump from 5.7 percent in 2021 to 2.9 percent in 2022.

Forum on Global Trade and the Digital Economy 

U.S. Chamber of Commerce executive Myron Brilliant discussed three opportunities American businesses can take advantage of to impact the global economy in 2022.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2nd annual Global Forum on May 10 and 11, 2022. The forum focused on how government and business leaders can address global challenges

Myron Brilliant, executive vice president and head of international affairs for the U.S. Chamber, set the stage for the day’s programming. He summarized three major issues affecting the interconnected global economy, as well as some significant opportunities American businesses have to impact the global economy.

Easing Supply Chain Bottlenecks for a Sustainable Future

World Trade Organization (WTO) members and stakeholders from every part of the supply chain shared perspectives on the underlying causes and trajectory of continued supply chain disruptions. They also discussed the resources, interventions and innovations needed to ease crippling disruptions, logjams and price hikes.

The World Ahead 2022 from The Economist

 The World Ahead 2022 is The Economist’s outlook for 2002. The magazine’s correspondents and outside experts consider the new reality that is emerging in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and ask what it means for politics, economics, business, science and culture.