The increase is projected to be as high as 9.3 per cent annually, peaking at $US21.2 billion in 2017.
?Although growth in world cement consumption will decelerate from that of the 2007-2012 period, a number of factors will contribute to robust value growth for additives,? Freedonia Group analyst Mike Richardson said.
Additive loadings are increasing in all but the most developed markets, according to Freedonia Group. The market researcher has released a study – World Cement & Concrete Additives – that indicates that growth in cement use in the US, Italy, Spain and other developed markets will rebound as construction recovers. This will fuel growth in the additives market.
A shift to higher performance water reducers and other chemical additives will drive gains and while growth in overall cement consumption will decelerate, much of this will occur in large cement markets that are low-intensity additive users.
In markets not affected by the economic downturn, gains will be prompted by increased additive usage, and a move to higher value additives to produce concrete that meets increasingly stringent performance expectations.
The China factor
In China, which accounted for nearly three-fifths of the world?s cement demand and more than one-quarter of additive demand in 2012, increased use of high performance super plasticisers will sustain growth for additives.
Chemical additives will post strong growth through 2017 as many significant markets for chemical additives rebound.
In developing markets, the use of higher loadings and higher value products will boost demand, and demand for minerals will post healthy gains. This will be below pace due to the increased use of fly ash, slag and other materials as components of blended cement, rather than as concrete additives.
On a world level, the shift to greater use of blended cement is attributable to China, where blended cement dominates and the sheer size of its cement market results in a gravitational pull on other markets.
Source: Freedonia Group