Concrete and cement industries brace for demand boom
$1 trillion infrastructure plan looks to create increased demand.
Concrete is the foundation of just about everything. It’s used to construct buildings, highways, bridges, roads and more.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, concrete fell victim to the same phenomena impacting other essential materials and goods: snarled supply chains and labor shortages. And demand for concrete — and its essential ingredient, cement — appears to have only increased, after the Senate passed the $1 trillion infrastructure package to upgrade America’s roads, bridges and tunnels.
“In the short-term, we continue to have the supply chain difficulties, particularly in certain markets, and so prices are rising,” Anirban Basu, chief economist for the national construction industry trade association Associated Builders and Contractors, told CNBC. “So right now, apparently, supply is not rising up to meet demand.”
The industry also faces labor shortages of skilled workers and truck drivers. And the recent housing boom means more demand for concrete and cement, putting more pressure on the industry to increase capacity.
On top of all of this, there’s also a push to reduce the amount of carbon emissions that come from the industry. A study published by the National Academy of Sciences in 2019 estimates that global cement production accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions, making it the largest single industrial emitter of carbon dioxide.
Watch the video
to learn more about the cement-concrete supply chain and whether the U.S. industry can handle the coming demand from the new $1 trillion infrastructure spending plan.
Here is a link to a video that does a great job explaining the current and forecast demand:
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Holiday Giving
Thanks to the generosity of the Arcosa Specialty Materials employees in the Norman, OK office, a local charity was the beneficiary of some well-timed assistance.
Norman employees decided to support The Women’s Resource Center. Since 1975, they been helping women live better lives with a primary focus on people victimized by domestic and sexual violence. The Shelter, the Rape Crisis Center, and the Satellite Office fill an urgent need in the area and . The Women’s Resource Center is the only organization providing these services in Cleveland County.
Between November 4th and December 14th, Arcosa Specialty Materials coordinated a donation drive in the Norman office. Items collected by the employees included clothing, food, and children’s items like toys and diapers.
A big congratulations for the warm hearts of the Norman area employees to help make life a little better for those in need.