Improving underlying economic fundamentals, the existence of large pent-up demand balances, and the diminishment of economic fiscal cliff uncertainty will combine to result in strong growth rates in 2013 and an increase in cement consumption, said Portland Cement Association (PCA) Chief Economist Ed Sullivan, in a special forecast held at last month’s World of Concrete in Las Vegas.
According to Sullivan, there will be an 8.1 percent growth in cement consumption in 2013, significantly higher than the tepid growth projected in its fall 2012 report. The upward revisions reflect adjustments made in light of the recent fiscal cliff accord, recognition of stronger economic momentum, and markedly more optimistic assessments regarding residential construction activity. The January report marked 2012 consumption at 78.5 million metric tons, an 8.9 percent increase compared to 2011.
“Growth in 2013 cement consumption will be largely driven by gains in residential construction,” Sullivan said. “Housing starts should reach nearly 950,000 units, with single-family construction near 700,000 starts during 2013. We see starts hitting the one million mark in 2014 or 2015.”
Sullivan did caution, however, that the first quarter of 2013 would actually show declines compared to the same period in 2012. “It is important to point out that this potential decline in first quarter growth rates does not signal a weakening in market fundamentals, but rather a hangover from favorable 2012 weather conditions. Stronger gains in cement consumption growth are expected during the second quarter,” he said
The accelerated consumption predicted during the second half of 2013 should carry into the following year. PCA projects an increase of 8.3 percent for 2014. PCA also upwardly revised its long-range projections for 2015-2017. Annual growth during that period is expected to be as high as 9.2 percent. Cement consumption is dictated by the level of construction activity and by the prevailing cement intensity. While 2017 cement intensity levels remain well below the pre-recession averages and upside risks remain, these risks have been significantly reduced.
In its January 2013 Intelligence Report, PCA notes the impact of MAP-21 on state and local highway expenditures. “The new highway bill reinforces the likelihood that state and local spending will increase significantly during the forecast horizon,” the report states. “According to the new highway bill, a tenfold increase in funding of The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) is planned. Compared to existing funding levels of $122 million, TIFIA funding increases to $750 million in fiscal 2013 and $1 billion in 2014. These increases provide greater ability for state and local governments to finance large-scale construction projects.”
