| SIC Codes: | 3241 3273 3272 3271 |
| NAICS Codes: | 327310 327320 327331 327332 327390 |
Companies in this industry manufacture cement, ready-mix concrete, and concrete products such as blocks, pipes, bricks, walls, and girders. Major companies include Ash Grove Cement Company, Texas Industries, US Concrete, and Vulcan Materials (all based in the US), as well as Cemex (Mexico), CRH (Ireland), Holcim (Switzerland), and LaFarge (France).
Demand is determined primarily by nonresidential and residential construction activity. The profitability of individual companies is strongly dependent on efficient operations, as products are commodities and companies compete chiefly on price. Large companies enjoy economies of scale in purchasing and the ability to invest in technologies that improve efficiency. Small manufacturers can compete through superior customer service and by serving small or rural markets. The industry is concentrated: the top 50 companies account for half of industry revenue.
Major products include ready-mix concrete (about 60 percent of industry sales), cement (20 percent), concrete block and brick (10 percent), and items such as concrete beams, girders, pipe, and wall panels.
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