The Production of Cement in the US

 

According to the Portland Cement Association, “Nearly two-thirds of U.S. cement consumption occurs in the six months between May and October.”  They also say that around 70 percent of cement shipments are sent to ready-mix concrete operators.   The remaining cement is shipped to manufacturers, government entities, contractors and to oil well, mining, and drilling companies.  

The fine gray powder that is known as portland cement is the key component in concrete mixtures.  With more than 100 cement plants in the United States, our country has the capacity to produce over 100 million tons of cement a year, and we are one of the largest manufacturers in the world just behind China and India. 

The U.S. cement manufacturing plants are located in 36 states; however California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Alabama produce about 48% of the cement manufactured in the U.S.  Many of the U.S. plants are owned by or are subsidiaries of foreign companies and almost 80% of our cement production comes from these companies.  

Most cement is transported by trucks as it is generally manufactured close to the site where it will be used as well as close to limestone quarries where the raw material comes from.  Furthermore, cement consumption is dependent upon favorable weather conditions, so in many places, it is a seasonal business.   

The production of cement reflects the state of the construction industry.  At those times when construction slows down, so does the demand for cement.  With the recent recovery in the economy and the subsequent uptick of many construction projects around the country, the cement industry is currently doing quite well.   

Source:

cement.org/for-concrete-books-learning/cement-manufacturing

The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of commercial concrete services for the Western United States.  Our extensive services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects and highways.  We have four regional offices serving California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado.