Slump in production hits concrete industry
The Portland Cement Association predicts that portland cement consumption will be down until at least 2010, as the depressed housing market affects consumer spending and commercial construction.
In the long term, though, cement use is expected to grow by 43% to 183-million tonness by 2030, 55-million tonness more than 2005. Highway construction, which accounts for 30% of total annual cement consumption, is expected to add 400,000 new roadway miles by 2030. And if “green” building continues to grow, energy efficient insulated concrete walls could account for 30% of all new homes, up from 7% today. That growth alone could use an additional eight million metric tons of cement.
Source: ENR
