Boost for global cement demand

Global demand for cement is forecast to rise +5.3% per year between 2010 and 2015 to 4.3 billion tonnes - a volume valued at US$ 335 billion, according to research company Freedonia.

It said the increase would be fuelled by rising investments in infrastructure among the developing countries, in addition to a predicted rebound in cement demand in more mature markets such as the US and Western Europe.

However, the report warned that growth between 2010 and 2015 would lag the double-digit advances seen from 2005 to 2010, due predominantly to a deceleration in China's cement consumption.

According to Freedonia, China accounted for 56% of world cement demand in 2010 - a figure that is forecast to climb +4.9% per year through to 2015 to reach 2.35 billion tonnes, representing 55% of the global total.

"The maturing of the Chinese cement market, combined with a slowdown in the pace of construction spending in the country, will serve to moderate the double-digit yearly demand growth exhibited from 2000 to 2010," Freedonia said.

Including China, the Asia Pacific region as a whole is set to remain by far the world's largest cement market, with expected demand for 3.1 billion metric tonnes by 2015 - representing growth of +5.1% year-on-year from 2010.

The Africa and Middle East region is predictedto see the next highest demand in 2015, with a forecast of 513 million tonnes, while Central and Southern America is expected to see demand for 164.5 million tonnes of cement by 2015.

US demand to rise

However, Freedonia said that while demand volumes in Western Europe would outstrip the North American market in 2015 - with a total of 196 million tonnes forecast for Western Europe versus 162 million tonnes in North America - the US would actually see the strongest demand growth of any cement market of +9.4% per year through to 2015.

"Increases will be stimulated by a robust recovery in residential construction spending, which will post growth of more than +13% annually through to 2015. Non-residential building construction activity in the US will also rise after a period of decline, and non-building construction growth will accelerate, further bolstering overall cement sales," Freedonia said.