By: Portland Cement Association
2023 was the most energy-efficient year yet for the U.S. cement industry, according to a recent survey from the Portland Cement Association (PCA), which represents America’s cement manufacturers. PCA’s U.S. Labor-Energy Input Survey is an annual survey of PCA member companies.
Other noteworthy trends include alternative fuel usage rising in 2023 to a 16% share of the industry’s fuel mix, up from 14.6% in the previous year’s report. Companies also experienced a growing consumption of natural gas and a decline in the use of coal and petroleum coke last year.
Additionally, natural gas’ share of total fuel consumption jumped to 31% last year from 25.3% in 2022, representing the highest reliance on natural gas among cement manufacturers since 1976. Some of the increased reliance is likely accrued to the decline in its price. Concurrently, coal and petroleum share of the fuel mix fell to its lowest level since 1974.
These developments in the cement industry’s energy consumption come in the context of U.S. cement manufacturers increasing the production of blended, lower-carbon cements. In 2023, half of the cement consumed in the U.S. was blended. According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s latest (July) publication, blended cement’s share of cement consumption reached 63%, reflecting an all-time high.