Led by an expected 8.5% growth in China, world-wide portland cement consumption will increase 5.6% in 2006, followed by a rise of 5.5% in 2007, according to the first-ever international cement consumption forecast issued by Portland Cement Association. This level of growth translates into an average of nearly 130 million metric tons annually.

The report cites growth conditions in the developing world, particularly China, as playing a critical role in consumption trends. About 20% of cement consumption growth will occur outside of China and the industrialized world, mostly in other Asian nations, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South America. “While the major developed economies like the U.S. and Western Europe have generally performed well,” PCA Chief Economist Ed Sullivan said, “world economic growth has been characterized by buoyant growth outside these industrial countries.”

Sullivan predicts the world economy will increase 3.2% in 2006, with a 2.9% increase expected in 2007.