Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va. Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico were about 7.3 million mt in June 2011, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This was 2.8 percent lower compared with shipments for June 2010. Total shipments for the year through June were approximately 32.1 million mt, slightly lower than…
Read MoreCategory: Latest
Cemex nears $378 million Ready Mix USA buyout
Sources: Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V., Monterrey, Mexico; Staff reports Pursuant to the exercise of a put option by Ready Mix USA, Cemex will assume full ownership in the two Cemex USA–Ready Mix USA joint ventures. Created in 2005, they span ready mixed, concrete block, cement and aggregate production and distribution operations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and five other Southeast states.
Read MoreMIT buildings, pavements research position concrete for post-LEED accounting
Sources: CP staff; Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill.; RMC Research & Education Foundation, Silver Spring, Md. Two studies from the Concrete Sustainability Hub at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology represent major advancements for construction-related life-cycle assessments (LCA), as they quantify cradle-to-grave cost and environmental impacts for buildings and pavements. Released August 11 as part of the Concrete Sustainability Hub’s 2011…
Read MoreCemex in Dominican Republic begins first major turnkey project in Santo Domingo
Source: Cemex, S.A. de C.V., Monterrey, Mexico Cemex has recently began its first turnkey project in the Dominican Republic with its participation in the construction of one of capital city Santo Domingo’s biggest projects and the surrounding market. Mercatodo Santo Domingo is a new distribution center for agricultural and refrigerated products. It will require 12,500 cu. meters of ready mix…
Read MoreARRA spending continues to decline
Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill. According to a recent PCA report, 77.3 percent of total American Recovery and Reinvestment Act highway funds have been dispersed through July, compared to 75.6 percent in June. July highway stimulus spending was $452 million, a 31 percent decrease from June’s spending rate. Against year-ago levels, July’s spending volumes declined 64 percent. Spending has…
Read MoreState economic recovery to vary depending on deficits, market strength
Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill. The national economy is expected to recover during 2011-2012, generating 2.5 million jobs in 2011 and 2.7 million in 2012. However, due to the over-supply characteristics in residential and commercial markets, coupled with persistent state deficits, construction activity may encounter a more prolonged recovery. According to a recent PCA report, relatively flat conditions will…
Read MoreCement consumption forecast drops; lower prospective highway funding culprit
Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill. Uncertainty regarding highway spending legislation and government policy related to the debt crisis has caused the PCA cement consumption forecast to be downgraded from a 1.4 percent increase over 2010 figures to 0.2 percent for 2011.
Read MorePCA: Cement Relief Act provides opportunity for thoughtful, appropriate regs
Source: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill. In late July, Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK) and Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), along with a bipartisan group of their colleagues, introduced the “Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011” (H.R. 2681). The legislation requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to re-propose three recent environmental rules directed at the portland cement industry.
Read MoreCemex asset swap helps TXI expand R-M, aggregates presence in central Texas
Sources: Texas Industries, Inc., Dallas; Cemex USA, Houston; CP staff TXI announced that its subsidiary has entered into an asset swap with Cemex USA, in which TXI will acquire the ready mix and aggregate operations of Cemex that serve the Austin metropolitan market. The transaction was finalized July 29 and brings TXI one aggregate and three ready mixed concrete plants.…
Read MoreFive Cemex USA plants receive Energy Star Awards
Source: Cemex USA, Houston Cemex announced recently that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have awarded five of the company’s U.S. cement manufacturing plants the 2011 Energy Star award.
Read More