Demand for Cement and Concrete Additives to Increase

Demand for cement and concrete additives in the United States will grow 6.4 percent per year through 2012, according to a report from the Cleveland-based market research firm the Freedonia Group.

Strong gains are expected for all major product types, chemical mineral and fiber additives, as construction activity and concrete demand rebound from a low 2007 base. Advances will also be driven by rising use of industrial byproducts in concrete for economic and environmental reasons. Highways and streets were the largest outlet for cement and concrete additives in 2007, consuming about one-third of total demand by value. This market will grow the fastest, according to the Freedonia Group study, as it is expected that federal funding for transportation products will remain strong through 2012.

Mineral additives will post above-average gains in demand, a continuation of long-term trends. Waste materials—particularly coal fly ash—will increasingly be used as a partial replacement for Portland cement in concrete. Blast furnace slag is expected to see more moderate growth in demand, limited by supply constraints.

The full study, “Cement & Concrete Additives,” is available for purchase through the Freedonia Group at www.freedoniagroup.com.