Cement consumption in the United States will increase

The Portland Cement Association forecasts overall U.S. cement consumption will rise in 2005, even after summer hurricanes brought many construction projects in the Gulf to a halt. The Skokie Cement Association predicts that cement consumption will increase by 5.2% over 2004, reaching 120 million tons. The demand for cement next year will increase by 3.7% compared with this year.

< P > Strong cement demand from the construction industry has led to good cement sales at the CEMEX cement plant in Fairborn in recent years.

< P > The rebuilding of New Orleans will consume between 650,000 and 1.8 million tons of cement per year for the next five years. Housing construction will slow next year because of high interest rates, inflation and rising energy prices, which will offset the amount of cement needed for reconstruction in the Gulf region.

< P > The association estimates that the United States will import 27% of its cement this year, or about 33 million tons. Last year, 23% of cement was imported.

Whether due to stormy weather or not, there is a shortage of cement in the US market. This summer, there was a shortage of cement in 32 States.

< P > The main cement importer of the United States is Canada, followed by China, South Korea, Thailand, Venezuela, Greece and Mexico. The Association of General Contractors of the United States has sent a request to the United States Ministry of Commerce to suspend anti-dumping duties on Mexican cement. Imports of cement from Mexico will not affect U.S. cement producers because imports from Mexico can offset imports from other Asian countries.

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