The US Cement Industry

Cement is the key ingredient in concrete, and as the Portland Cement Association (PCA) explains, portland cement is “the generic term for the type of cement used in virtually all concrete, just as stainless is a type of steel and sterling a type of silver.”  To manufacture cement, lime, silica, alumina, iron and other materials are heated to extremely high temperatures that create marble-size balls or nodules called clinker.  Next the clinker is ground up and mixed in with limestone and gypsum.  

The production of cement accounts for 5 percent of manmade carbon dioxide emissions but the PCA reports that since the 1990s, the US cement industry has been “committed to minimizing emissions, waste, energy consumption, and the use of virgin raw materials.   In addition concrete is a very durable product that is used to produce sustainable infrastructure that is resistant to damage from natural disasters and fire.  Concrete structures are also more energy-efficient to heat and cool and concrete pavement has been shown to provide better fuel economy.

The PCA cites the fact that the US cement industry employs nearly 13,800 workers and has an annual payroll of approximately $959 million.  When concrete-related industries are included, the number of employees rises to 490,691 and the annual payroll is $22.5 billion.  In California, The Conco Companies home base, the cement industry contributes $36.6 million to the state revenue and together the cement and concrete-related industries contribute $5.4 billion.  

Altogether there are 90 cement plants located in 33 states and every state in the continental US has distribution facilities.  In California there are 10 plants and 11 terminals.  In Washington State, another place where we provide concrete services, there are three plants and nine terminals.  Please visit Conco’s website to learn about our concrete services and to get a look at many of our recent projects. 

The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services throughout the Western U.S.  We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products and are now one of the foremost concrete contractors in the region. Our concrete services include commercial, educational, industrial and public works projects as well as parking structures.

Source:cement.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/calif-statefacsht1_15-d2.pdf?sfvrsn=0