Global Portland Cement

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This study covers the global market for portland cement. Cement markets included are:

• residential building construction
• nonresidential building construction
• infrastructure and other markets, including roads, bridges, and other nonbuilding construction (e.g., public utility structures, airports, military facilities, parks, playgrounds)

Historical data for 2010, 2015, and 2020, and forecasts for 2025 and 2030 are provided for cement demand in metric tons and US dollars.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on portland cement demand in all regions and markets in 2020, due mostly to downturns in construction, as well as to suppliers opting for less expensive alternatives, such as blended cement, during a period of great economic uncertainty:

• Central and South America was the hardest hit region in term of portland cement demand in 2020, as an already weak economy and building construction industry was exacerbated by the effects of the pandemic.
• Eastern Europe also experienced a sizable decline in demand in 2020, due mostly to the falling residential construction in Russia and most other countries in the region.

The two largest national markets – China and the US – both had weak portland cement markets in 2020, with the US experiencing a slight decline and China posted only a minor increase in demand given the preference for blended cement.

Except for North America – where demand is expected to decline slightly in 2021 due to a dip in nonresidential construction in the US – all regions and markets are expected to rebound strongly in 2021 and beyond, as construction markets are anticipated to rebound and surpass pre-pandemic levels.

Demand by Region

Global demand for portland cement is projected to advance 3.8% per year to 1.1 billion metric tons in 2025. Portland cement demand will be supported by the strength and durability of such products as high compressive strength grades, sulfate-resistant grades, and high early strength grades in demanding applications. For instance, high early strength grades of portland cement are the most efficient products for pavement repair applications.

However, further growth in the consumption of portland cement will be restrained by the following factors:

• Portland cement tends to be more expensive than blended cement, due to the higher energy costs for its production.
• Many manufacturers have been gradually moving away from portland cement toward products containing pozzolanic materials because they do not require the energy-intensive clinker phase of production, which can account for about 35% of the cost of manufacturing portland cement.
• The growing importance of environmental considerations has pushed a number of suppliers to shift toward blended cement, which utilizes waste materials and avoids the massive carbon dioxide emissions that result from the manufacture of portland cement.
• Competition from asphalt and other alternative types of construction materials will restrain consumption, as nearly all portland cement is used in making either concrete or mortar.

In countries where portland cement is the leading product, limited availability of pozzolanic materials will continue to restrain the ability of producers to shift away from portland cement to blended cement. The introduction of new specialty cement products will also provide increasing competition.

Residential Buildings

Global demand for portland cement in residential applications is forecast to rise 4.4% per year to 571 million metric tons in 2025, supported by:

• rising residential building construction in the Asia/Pacific region, led by double-digit growth in India
• fast population growth and increased urbanization in the Africa/Mideast region
• a rebound in new housing construction in Central & South America following weakness in the construction industry, which was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

Nonresidential Buildings

Through 2025, global demand for portland cement in nonresidential applications is projected to increase 2.8% per year to 193 million metric tons, supported by:

• strong economic growth that is expected in developing countries throughout the Asia/Pacific region, generating demand for cement in the construction of commercial, industrial, and retail facilities
• a rebound in nonresidential building construction in the Africa/Mideast region

Pricing Trends

Cement prices can also vary substantially from country to country. The average price of cement can range from as low as $50 per metric ton in developing countries to over $200 per metric ton in some countries. Even within a particular country, prices can vary from one area to another, depending on the location of cement production facilities and ports. In addition to product availability, factors influencing the cost of cement within a given area include:

• local inflation trends
• pricing patterns for other construction materials
• supply and demand dynamics
• transportation costs
• method of purchase (bulk or in bags)

In much of the developing world, for example, the majority of sales are accounted for by bagged cement, which is priced much higher than cement delivered in bulk.

The global average price of portland cement is projected to rise 2.2% per year through 2025 to $97 per metric ton, due to rising energy costs and government regulation.