Cement & Concrete Additives forecasts to 2010 & 2015

PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 13, 2007 – Cement & Concrete Additives forecasts to 2010 & 2015

Demand to increase 6.2% annually through 2010

US demand for cement and concrete additives is forecast to rise 6.2 percent per year to $2.3 billion in 2010, outpacing concrete demand and overall construction expenditures. Among the factors fueling gains will be a rebound in the nonresidential construction market, as well as healthy increases in highway and street spending. Additionally, greater acceptance of mineral additives such as fly ash and blast furnace slag will drive demand for these products as partial substitutions for portland cement. Value gains will benefit from a shift toward higher-value products in additives such as water reducers, accelerators and air entrainers.

Chemical additives to remain dominant product

Chemical additives will remain the largest product segment, comprising half 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 concrete (SCC). Additionally, the rise of better-performing polycarboxylate superplasticizers will expand the range of applications for water reducers in concrete. The market for accelerators and air entrainers will be characterized by a trend away from traditional commodity products, although the performance of these alternative formulations remains in question.

Demand for mineral additives will grow nearly seven percent per year through 2010, with almost all products posting above-average gains. Fly ash and blast furnace slag will benefit from use as low-cost cementious materials in concrete mixes, as well as a positive environmental profile. Higher-value mineral additives such as silica fume and metakaolin will also see greater use in high-performance concrete applications. Although advances for synthetic fibers will be subpar, demand will be strong for steel and specialty fibers such as cellulose and alkali-resistant glass.

Nonresidential building, highway and street markets to exhibit healthy growth

Highways and streets and nonresidential buildings were the two largest markets for cement and concrete additives in 2005, each controlling about a third of total demand. Both are expected to grow at an excellent pace, fueled by strong increases in nonresidential building construction, and the passage of SAFETEA-LU, which provides nearly $300 billion in federal funding for highways and streets through 2010.

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