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| 2006 Cement Consumption to Stay in Line with Earlier Forecasts US' experts predict cement consumption this year to increase more than five percent over 2004 levels, despite this year’s hurricanes. Residential construction is expected to decline due to raising mortgage rates in 2006; however, increases in commercial construction and public works construction will more than offset the residential slowdown and provide a net cement consumption gain in 2006. Closely in line with its summer, pre-Katrina forecast, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) Fall 2005 Economic Forecast projects that more than 120 million metric tons of cement will be used in 2005, an increase of 5.2 percent from 2004, with consumption rising an additional 3.7 percent in 2006. The U.S. is expected to import 33 million tons of cement in 2005, roughly 27 percent of the cement consumed. PCA’s fall forecast projects 2006 imports to reach 35 million tons, in-line with earlier, pre-Katrina estimates. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Construction News :: home page |