Cement & Concrete Products Manufacturers NAICS 3273

Nov 30, 2025 - Data Centers Spur Growth

• FMI Consulting forecasts that spending for total construction put-in-place will decline 1.4% this year, before rebounding slightly, at a rate of 0.7%, in 2026, Engineering News-Record reported in November. FMI expects total residential construction put-in-place is expected to follow a similar trend, dropping 2.2% in 2025, then increasing 0.7% in 2026. In the non-residential market, declines are predicted in both 2025 and 2026, at a rate of 2% and 0.5%, respectively. Megaprojects, led by data centers, are expected to keep construction activity afloat in 2026. Following a sizable 55.7% spike in 2024, FMI forecasts data center construction to increase 24.9% in 2026, following a 33.4% increase this year. A recent report from the American Cement Association predicts the US will need approximately 1-million metric tons of cement to construct data centers to house AI technology by 2028.
• A Massachusetts startup has developed a new cement production process that eliminates fossil fuels and limestone, reducing carbon emissions by over 90% compared with traditional Portland cement, Triple Pundit reports. For cement manufacturers, the new technology represents both a competitive challenge and a potential catalyst for transformation. Traditional cement production is responsible for roughly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, largely from limestone calcination and kiln fuel; Sublime Systems’ electrochemical process bypasses both, producing a low-carbon alternative that meets ASTM standards. Its adoption by major contractors and corporate buyers, including Microsoft, signals growing market demand for sustainable cement products. Existing cement producers may face pressure to invest in alternative decarbonization pathways like carbon capture, calcined clay, or electrified processes to remain competitive. The shift highlights the importance of innovation, supply-chain adaptation, and customer-driven sustainability initiatives, potentially accelerating a broader transformation in the cement industry toward low-carbon production.

• Heidelberg Materials and the UK Government have reached a FID (Final Investment Decision) to build the world’s first carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility to enable fully decarbonized cement production, World Cement reported in September. Construction of the plant in north Wales is set to begin later this year. When operational in 2029, the plant will produce carbon captured net-zero cement for the construction industry, helping the UK construction industry to reach its decarbonization goals. The new facility is designed to capture up to 800,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually from existing cement operations, equaling nearly all the plant’s CO₂ emissions. The captured carbon will be transported via pipeline for permanent storage beneath Liverpool Bay. The energy-intensive cement industry is one of the world's largest greenhouse gas polluters, responsible for 7%-8% of global emissions, around 2.6 gigatons a year.
• Producer prices for cement and concrete products manufacturers climbed to a new high in August, up 1.8% compared to a year ago, after rising 4.8% in the previous August-versus-August annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Rising raw material and energy costs are contributing to the rise in producer prices. Employment by the industry grew 2.7% year over year in July, while the average industry wage at cement and concrete products manufacturers rose 4.8% over the same period to a new high of $28.59 per hour, BLS data show. Employment by the industry is seasonal, typically falling in winter and peaking in the warm summer months along with construction activity.