In 2022, against the backdrop of frequent extreme weather events and an accelerated clean energy transition, the hot-dip galvanized carport market demonstrated strong growth momentum. As a metal protection solution combining high strength, superior corrosion resistance and long service life, hot-dip galvanized steel structures played an increasingly important role in global vehicle protection and building‑integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Industry data showed that the global metal carport market was valued at approximately US$1.8 billion in 2022, and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 5.2% through 2030. Meanwhile, installations of residential steel carports in North America achieved a 27% year‑on‑year growth since 2020, as extreme weather caused an estimated US$12 billion in vehicle damage annually, driving consumers to seek more reliable protection solutions.

Core Advantages Established: Hot‑Dip Galvanizing Becomes the “Gold Standard” for Steel Carport Structures

The hot-dip galvanizing process has gained strong preference due to its outstanding anti‑corrosion performance. The process immerses steel into molten zinc, forming a tightly bonded protective layer that effectively isolates moisture, oxygen and oxidation reactions, providing comprehensive protection to the steel substrate. This enables hot-dip galvanized carports to achieve an outdoor service life of more than 25 years with minimal maintenance. Moreover, steel is 100% recyclable, aligning with the circular economy concept. In practice, hot-dip galvanized carports can withstand loads exceeding 10 tons (e.g., from heavy trucks), deliver outstanding wind and seismic resistance, and have become the preferred solution for heavy‑duty logistics and industrial applications.

Photovoltaic Integration Trend: Hot‑Dip Galvanized Carports Merge with Green Energy

In 2022, the combination of hot-dip galvanized carports and photovoltaic power generation systems stood out as an industry highlight. For example, Farmingdale High School in the United States completed a 946.7 kWDC solar carport system using 72 tons of hot-dip galvanized steel, including anchor bolts, columns, pipe arms and purlins. MOJO of the Netherlands launched the world’s largest solar carport project over a 35‑hectare parking lot at the Lowlands music festival, with steel structures using IPE200/IPE220 steel columns pre‑treated with hot‑dip galvanizing. In China, the solar parking canopy at the Hebei Yiling Pharmaceutical factory adopted a composite material of “hot‑dip galvanized + zinc‑aluminum‑magnesium”, ensuring structural strength while achieving visual harmony with the surrounding environment.

Major Projects Realized: Wide Application of Hot‑Dip Galvanized Carports in Public & Industrial Sectors

In 2022, several important tenders and construction projects explicitly specified hot‑dip galvanized steel carport solutions. The safety improvement tender for the canopy at Wuwei South Railway Station (Lanzhou Railway Bureau Group, China) required hot‑dip galvanized steel pipes with a wall thickness of 5 mm and diameter of 22 cm for columns, and 60 mm × 50 mm hot‑dip galvanized square tubes for purlins, with a roof steel sheet thickness of 1 mm. In addition, the non‑motor vehicle canopy project at the Changzhou campus of SVOLT Energy Technology used a design combining a hot‑dip galvanized wire mesh fence with a concrete foundation.

Industry Honors & Technical Innovations: Driving Continuous Refinement of Hot‑Dip Galvanizing

In May 2022, the American Galvanizers Association (AGA) awarded its “Excellence in Hot‑Dip Galvanizing” awards, with over 100 projects competing in 15 categories. The winning projects fully demonstrated the great advantages of hot‑dip galvanizing in sustainability and durability. Meanwhile, companies such as Huada New Materials researched and developed new hot‑dip galvanized zinc‑aluminum‑magnesium products that have already been exported, and can be widely used in building roofs, photovoltaic supports and ventilation ducts. Experts pointed out that the hot‑dip galvanized coating, typically 30–100 microns thick, has excellent adhesion to the metal substrate and can maintain its aesthetic appearance and anti‑corrosion performance for a long time under normal service conditions.