Despite efforts made to reach an adequate near-term supply, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) has reported that cement consumption remains ?EUR??,,????'??extremely strong.?EUR??,,????'??

The PCA predicts that the United States annual cement consumption will grow to almost 195 million metric tons by 2030?EUR??,,????'??+a 1.7 compound annual growth rate. An increase in population and the demand for housing, commercial buildings, public buildings and infrastructure will fuel the increase.

To keep up with the future demand, cement companies are investing approximately $4.5 billion to increase capacity by about 20 million metric tons by 2010, an expansion that represents a 21 percent increase in the industry?EUR??,,????'???s domestic capabilities.

Currently through the first quarter of 2006, cement imports have increased nearly 40 percent over record 2005 levels.

Recent U.S.-Mexican trade agreements will increase imports from Mexico to southern markets that experience the tightest supply conditions.

The new trade agreement will increase annual import volume by up to 1 million metric tons.