Figures released recently by the Slag Cement Association show slag cement use increased 22.4% from 2001 to 2002, from 2.37 million metric tons to 2.9 million. The usage figures represent slag cement shipped as a separate product and as a component of blended cement. The figures are striking in light of the overall decrease in portland cement usage in the same period, which was down about 3.4%, according to Portland Cement Association numbers. SGA also points out that the 2002 slag cement usage increase is the largest in the last five years, and that total usage is up 164% since 1996.