Cement Manufacturing in the United States
Cement is a key component of the construction industry. In the United States, 30 companies operate 115 cement plants in 36 states. U.S. cement
production is rather widely distributed. The largest
company produces approximately 14% of the industry
total, with the top five companies collectively
producing approximately 54%. Worldwide, the United States
ranks third in cement production, behind China—the
world's leading producer—and India.
Production and consumption levels of cement are closely tied to trends in the construction sector. Cement consumption is spurred by strong performance in the construction industry as a whole; however, individual sector growth, such as highway construction, affects cement consumption more heavily.
The gap between domestic supply and demand was filled in 2007 by more than 22.7 million metric tons of imported cement and
cement clinker. Approximately 76% of cement and clinker
imported in 2007 came from four major countries:
China, Canada, Thailand, and Republic of Korea.
|
