Cement & Concrete Product Manufacturing Industry Overview

Excerpt from Cement & Concrete Product Manufacturing Report

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).

Competitive Landscape

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.

Products, Operations & Technology

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.