The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports that cement production in the United States is robust and well-established, reaching 120.5 million metric tons per year. Cement is produced in two ways: integrated plants and grinding plants. However, the majority of cement production in the United States is done through integrated plants. Multinational corporations such as CRH Plc, Cemex, Lafarge Holcim, Lehigh Hanson, Argos USA Corporation, and Buzzi Unicem dominate the industry, while domestic companies like Ash Grove Cement and CalPortland Company are few in number. Despite this, the United States is still the world’s third-largest cement producer, trailing behind only China and India.
Largest Cement Companies in the USA
- CRH Plc
- Cemex
- Lafarge Holcim
- Lehigh Hanson
- Argos USA Corporation
- Ash Grove Cement Company
- Buzzi Unicem
- CalPortland Company
- Eagle Materials
- Essroc cement corp
1. CRH Plc.
CRH plc, an Ireland-based company, established its North American arm in 1990 and commenced operations in the USA the same year. Today, CRH has a presence across the United States, with operations in six Canadian provinces and twenty-nine other countries. It considers itself to be the largest building materials company in North America and has a headquarter in Atlanta.
In the period between 2015 and 2016, CRH experienced rapid growth following its acquisition of various assets resulting from the merging Lafarge and Holcim. With 50.5Mt/yr of cement production capacity across 39 integrated and 15 grinding plants, CRH is a major player in the industry.
2. Cemex
Cemex is a Mexican company that entered the US market in 1994 after acquiring Balcones cement plant. It has been a major player in the cement manufacturing industry since 2000, but has experienced significant setbacks. However, its market share in the US increased significantly after acquiring Australia’s Rinker Materials. Currently, Cemex owns a total of 61 plants, consisting of 52 active integrated plants and nine active grinding plants, producing a total of 91.6 million tons of cement capacity per year. The company operates 13 plants and 46 cement terminals in the United States, with its headquarters based in Houston.
3. Lafarge Holcim
In 2015, Lafarge Holcim was created through the merger of Lafarge and Holcim, two former multinational producers. The company now boasts ownership of 220 plants and a total cement capacity of 345.2 million tons per year. Of those plants, 149 are integrated cement plants, which together have a capacity of 287.3 million tons per year. In addition, Lafarge Holcim has grinding capacity across 71 plants, with a total capacity of 57.9 million tons per year.
4. Lehigh Hanson
Lehigh Hanson has a long history in the cement production industry, dating back to 1897 when it started as a single mill operation producing Portland cement. Today, Lehigh Hanson is a part of Heidelberg Cement, one of the world’s foremost cement producers. Heidelberg Cement established its presence in the United States in 1977 with the acquisition of the Lehigh Cement Company.
Lehigh Hanson is currently responsible for producing a wide range of cement types, and it operates 19 cement plants and over 70 distribution terminals across the United States and Canada. Its headquarters are situated in Irving, Texas, United States, and the company’s distribution terminals are strategically located throughout the region to facilitate efficient delivery of its products to customers.
5. Argos USA Corporation
Argos Cement Company was established in Colombia in 1936 and quickly became a major player in the country’s cement industry. However, the company’s operations in the United States did not begin until 2005 when it acquired Southern Star Concrete and Concrete Express.
Since then, Argos Cement Company has made significant strides in the US market and, according to its official website, became the fourth largest cement production company in the country by 2011.
The company’s commitment to sustainability has also been recognized, as it was included in the 2014 RobecoSAM Sustainability Yearbook for the second consecutive year in 2015. Overall, Argos Cement Company’s expansion and recognition in the US market are notable accomplishments for the company.
6. Ash Grove Cement Company
Ash Grove Cement, a company with roots dating back to 1882, opened its first cement production plant in 1908. Today, it is recognized as the fifth largest cement production company in the United States. With eight cement plants located throughout the country, the company also operates 27 cement terminals and two deep water import terminals.
In 2018, Ash Grove Cement was acquired by CRH Plc, the largest building materials company in North America and the second largest globally.
7. Buzzi Unicem
Buzzi Unicem is recognized as one of the top cement manufacturing companies in the United States. The company was formed by the merger of Buzzi Unicem SpA and Lone Star Industries in 2004. With a production capacity of nearly 9 million metric tons, Buzzi Unicem owns seven cement plants that produce various types of cement in compliance with ASTM C150 guidelines. These types include Type l – general purpose, Type IA – air entrained, Type ll – moderate sulfate resistance, and Type lll – high early strength.
To ensure the wide distribution of its cement products, the company operates 34 cement terminals across the United States, which are responsible for delivering the cement to 21 different states.
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8. CalPortland Company
CalPortland is a renowned cement producer that has been in operation since 1891, when it opened its Colton Plant. The company is widely regarded as an industry leader due to its commitment to producing high-quality cement and advancing innovation in the field. CalPortland offers a variety of cement types, including Portland cement parts I to V, blended Portland-limestone type IL cement, oil and well cement glass g, among others.
Over the years, CalPortland has received numerous accolades for its efforts towards environmental protection. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the company for fourteen consecutive years from 2005 to 2018. CalPortland has been nationally recognized for its achievements in areas such as energy conservation, emission reduction, recycling, and plant safety.
Currently, CalPortland operates thirteen cement production plants across the United States.
9. Eagle Materials
Eagle Materials is a cement producer company that has been in operation since 1960. The company’s first cement plant was established in Nevada, and since then, it has expanded its operations to several other states, including Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming.
In recent years, Eagle Materials has undergone upgrade and expansion activities, resulting in a significant increase in its production capacity. These upgrades have added almost five million tons per year to the company’s production output. Overall, Eagle Materials continues to be a prominent player in the cement manufacturing industry, with a widespread presence across multiple states in the United States.
10. Essroc cement corp.
In 1866, a company named Coplay Cement Co was established, with the aim of producing cement. Six years later, in 1872, the company began manufacturing Portland cement. Over time, Coplay Cement Co became an important player in the cement industry.
In 1976, Ciments Francais acquired Coplay Cement Co. Subsequently, the company changed its name to Essroc cement corp. Under this new name, the company continued to produce a variety of cement products, including Portland cements, supplementary cementing materials, general purpose cement, slag cement, hydraulic cement, limestone cement, and blast furnace slags.
In 1992, Italcementi SpA acquired Ciments Francais, thereby becoming the owner of Essroc cement corp. Today, ESSROC Cement Corp. continues to produce a wide range of cement products for various applications.