U.S. cement demand could reach nearly 195 million mtpy by 2030, reflecting a 1.7% compound annual growth rate, according to the Portland Cement Association Long-Term Cement Consumption Outlook, released in late May. In addition to population growth, PCA sees greater demand for housing, commercial and public buildings, and infrastructure fueling the trend, along with an anticipated 25% jump in cement consumption per capita.

To meet future demand, the industry is engaged in an aggressive plant expansion phase that will increase capacity upward of 20 million metric tons by 2010, and has already seen companies invest nearly $4.5 billion. Industrywide expansion projects currently on the books will, when completed, represent a 21.2% increase in domestic capacity against current production. Most of the planned expansions, however, will not be available until after 2008.

In 2006, cement consumption is projected to increase 3.5%, after another record year in 2005, when consumption rose 5.9% to 127 million metric tons. Through the first quarter of 2006, cement usage had already hit 27.0 million metric tons, up 14.4% from the same period in 2005.