Global demand for cement and concrete additives is forecast to grow 7.2% a year until 2019 to US$24 billion, according to a new report by The
Meanwhile, increasing additive usage rates in developing countries, as well as a broader shift to higher performing specialty additives, will further support advances in additive demand, tips Freedonia. The report continues: “The types of additives being used will also be impacted by environmental concerns, with the choice between blended and portland cements impacting additive demand on a regional and country basis.”
World Cement & Concrete Additives states that despite a more challenging economic environment, demand for cement and concrete additives in China will grow through 2019, driven by increasing urbanisation and the resulting investment in public infrastructure projects such as highways and bridges, as well as by rising additive treatment rates. However, the new Freedonia report predicts that China’s role as the leading driver of global cement and concrete additives demand growth will diminish, as the importance of markets in other developing countries such as India and Turkey continues to grow. According to analyst Christine O’Keefe: “By 2024, India is forecast to be the third largest market for cement and concrete additives, just ahead of Japan.” Growth in demand in the other countries in the Asia/Pacific region and the Africa/Mideast region will also benefit from increasing urban populations. The Freedonia report continues: “Construction activity is expected to remain strong or accelerate in developed regions,
such as North America and Western Europe, driving demand for additives for concrete in buildings. In particular, growth in the United States, the second largest market for cement and concrete additives, will outpace nearly all other developed countries.”
According to World Cement & Concrete Additives, chemicals will continue to be the largest cement and concrete additive segment by value, with gains driven by increasing demand for high strength concrete in industrialised nations, and continued penetration of advanced chemical additives into the construction industries in developing countries. Growth in demand for fibre additives will, says the Freedonia report, outpace the other major additive types, as governments invest in large infrastructure projects that utilise fibres, such as roads and bridges. Freedonia also expects mineral additive demand will also post gains, driven by increasing utilisation of supplementary cementitious materials to further improve the performance of portland cements.
