Freedonia Market Research Analyzes Cement Additives Industry

Demand for cement and concrete additives in the US will grow 6.4 percent per year to $3.2 billion in 2012.  Strong gains are expected for all major product types -- chemical, mineral and fiber additives -- as construction activity and concrete demand rebound from a low 2007 base.  Advances will also be driven by rising utilization of industrial byproducts in concrete for economic and environmental reasons, as well as an increased focus on the production of durable and long-lasting concrete structures through the use of chemical and fiber additives.  Highways and streets were the largest outlet for cement and concrete additives in 2007, consuming about one-third of total demand by value.  This market will also grow the fastest, as it is expected that federal funding for transportation projects will remain strong through 2012. These and other trends, including company profiles and market share, are presented in Cement & Concrete Additives, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Chemical additives will remain the largest product segment, comprising 45 percent of the total market in value terms.  Gains will be led by strong demand for water reducers, especially high-range “superplasticizer” types, which are key components of self-consolidating and high performance concrete mixes.  

Mineral additives will post above-average gains in demand, a continuation of long-term trends.  Waste materials -- particularly coal fly ash -- will increasingly be used as a partial replacement for portland cement in concrete.  Blast furnace slag is expected to see more moderate growth in demand, limited by domestic supply constraints.  Additionally, demand will be boosted by the positive environmental profile of these additives, both as recycled materials and through their ability to reduce the pollution and energy consumption associated with cement production. 

Strong gains in demand for fiber additives will be driven by the increased acceptance of these products among concrete producers.  Gains will benefit from the rising use of synthetic macrofibers, which are added in high dosages to provide secondary reinforcement for concrete.  New product offerings which impart improved functionality to concrete, such as polyvinyl alcohol and cellulose fibers, will also see increases in sales.

The Freedonia Group is a leading international business research company, founded in 1985, that publishes more than 100 industry research studies annually. This industry analysis provides an unbiased outlook and a reliable assessment of an industry and includes product segmentation and demand forecasts, industry trends, demand history, threats and opportunities, competitive strategies, market share determinations and company profiles.