Issues & Trends

Issues & Trends

• "The Wall" Impact on Cement Consumption, February 2017

  The following is a Portland Cement Association (PCA) Market Intelligence initial analysis of potential impacts to cement consumption associated with building a wall along the border of Mexico being considered by the Trump Administration.
  
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• U.S. Cement Manufacturing Capacity, February 2017

  The U.S. cement industry has more than enough supply potential to feed even the most optimistic infrastructure spending program.
  
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• Stronger Sentiment, Higher Interest Rates, January 2017

  The election of a president always represents at least the potential that policies and procedures established during the previous administration may change -- to a greater or lesser degree.  Recent evidence may suggest modest increases in interest rates are likely to unfold, but consumer and business attitudes may actually be stronger than anticipated in the fall forecast.
  
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• State Highway Paving, January 2017

  Concrete’s market share in paving activity, as reflected in state DOT data (Oman), has remained relatively flat since the end of the Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA).  However, with oil prices expected to rise once again and the prospect of significant infrastructure investment, the potential for share growth in the years ahead could be substantial.
  
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• Asphalt Technology Assessment, May 2016

  The asphalt industry has put forth two products aimed at alleviating the high material costs of traditional hot-mix asphalt (HMA): warm-mix asphalt (WMA) and rubberized asphalt.  Both technologies exhibit several benefits over HMA, including cost, thus representing potential threats to concrete’s competitiveness.  PCA examines the costs associated with these nontraditional asphalt technologies.
  
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• Paving Report 2016

  Released May 2016.  What affects concrete pavement’s competitiveness amidst today’s new economic realities?  This updated analysis includes the latest Oman data measuring DOT paving activity, congestion and transportation network conditions, the relationship between oil and asphalt paving price indexes, asphalt supply mechanisms, domestic oil production, econometric analysis of market share and relative price movements, as well as discussion of policy roadblocks that stand in the way of free market dynamics.

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• Oil Price Adjustments, February 2016

  A combination of global supply and demand issues have forced oil prices to decline dramatically. West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices are currently near $30 per barrel.  If oil prices stay near $30 per barrel, or lower, several consequences to cement consumption could arise that would impact the fall forecast projections.
  
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• Highway Congestion, "FAST" and Demographics, January 2016

  The demographic trends encountered during the past 25 years are expected to more or less continue during the next 25 years.  Without increased emphasis on infrastructure spending, traffic congestion will worsen leading to increases in wasted fuel, CO2 emissions and to overall cost to the nation's economy.
  
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