The cement industry is known for important but low-key developments and the occasional blockbuster piece of news. It seems the news the last few months has been blockbuster all the way.
During a speech at the World Cement Association’s (WCA) 8th General Assembly in Hefei, China, WCA President Wei Rushan urged the global cement sector to embrace peace, rationality, innovation and responsibility amid a turbulent geopolitical and economic landscape.
He said a mouthful there.
In a rumored, but still stunning announcement, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) rebranded as the American Cement Association (ACA). President and CEO Mike Ireland announced the move on May 7 during the 2025 IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Conference at the Birmingham, Ala., Jefferson Convention Center.
Former PCA Economist Ed Sullivan – who left the association and recently debuted “The Sullivan Report” – decried the Trump administration’s tough stance on tariffs, which he said has dramatically increased the prospects of higher inflation and reduced the outlook for economic growth in 2025. “Indeed, a recession cannot be ruled out this year,” predicted Sullivan.
Not to be outdone, ACA’s Market Intelligence team – fronted by Trevor Storck – projected a third consecutive year of cement shipment declines in 2025, pointing to business and consumer uncertainty, subdued housing markets, weak commercial and waning industrial building activity, plus flat public construction spending levels.
At press time, the U.S. Department of Energy dropped a bombshell on the cement sector when it terminated financial participation of its Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) in proposed carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) facilities at Heidelberg Materials North America’s Mitchell, Ind. and National Cement Company of California’s Lebec cement plants. The producers were each on track for awards of up to $500 million.
WCA President Rushan noted, “The cement sector stands at a crossroads, facing geopolitical uncertainty, economic headwinds and urgent environmental demands. Yet by embracing the spirit of inclusiveness, openness, sharing and win-win cooperation, we can unite forward-thinking leaders and jointly forge a path toward a stronger, more sustainable future.”
There has never been a better time to do just that.
