US cement manufacturers’ 2007 project spending could top $2bn

US cement manufacturers’ 2007 project spending could top $2bn
21 November 2006


Capital project spending at US cement manufacturing plants could possibly exceed 2006 figures by 10 to 25 per cent, a total of $2.7bn for 125 projects, according to research conducted by Industrial Info Resources.

Currently, there are 65 active projects, totaling more than $1.8bn, which began construction in 2006. The projects range from grassroot plant construction to new import terminals to major maintenance shutdown work.

Industrial Info’s research takes into account an industry-wide Confidence Factor of 70 per cent (Confidence Factor is based on 58-month historical spending trend analysis), and the forecast for project spending to remain above 2006 levels depends on the outcome of several major expansion projects including Lafarge North America ($420m), California Portland Cement Co. ($400m), Buzzi Unicem USA ($262m), and Ash Grove Cement Co ($250m).

In 2006, the highest cement project activity was recorded in the West Coast, and the Southeast, where three major cement manufacturing capacity expansion projects began construction in Florida.
 
Although project activity in the Southeast and the West Coast will remain at high levels for 2007, its the Rocky Mountains area that is expected to see the biggest growth, Industrial Info forecasts.

There are 16 projects, with a total investment value of $643m, planned for the Rocky Mountains region, while the Southeast is looking at 20 projects with a $428m value, Industrial Info said.
Published under Cement News