American cement is foundational to solving the nation’s housing crisis.
American cement is foundational to solving the nation’s housing crisis.
Every new single-family home requires 30 to 40 cubic yards of concrete for its foundation, structure, and site work. With the U.S. facing a housing shortage of 3 to 5 million homes, meeting construction demand requires a reliable, domestic cement supply to produce the necessary concrete for our infrastructure. Domestic cement manufacturing operates in 99 plants across 34 states and Puerto Rico, creating a distributed network that enables builders to source materials regionally and reduce transportation costs and delays.
Speed and Reliability for Builders
Domestic cement producers provide reliable regional supply chains that reduce construction delays through dependable delivery and consistent quality. This approach minimizes supply chain disruptions that can idle construction sites, increase costs for developers, and delay building. American-made cement is compatible with modern construction methods that make it possible to quickly build new homes and close the housing supply gap. Predictable material availability allows builders to maintain
construction schedules and deliver housing units to market more efficiently.
Long-Term Affordability and Durability
Concrete homes built with quality cement offer substantial long-term cost advantages for homeowners and communities. These structures provide 20 to 25 percent energy savings compared to traditional wood-frame construction, significantly reducing utility costs over the life of the home, and have lower maintenance and insurance costs over time. American cement manufacturers produce materials that meet rigorous U.S. standards for performance, safety, and traceability, ensuring structural integrity and building code compliance.
Obstacles to Building with American Cement
Plant Closures and Capacity Constraints
The U.S. has experienced cement plant closures in California, Maine, and New York in recent years, reducing domestic production capacity at a time when housing demand is increasing. Domestic cement production capacity has remained relatively stagnant over the past decade, while demand continues to grow, creating supply constraints that drive up costs and extend construction timelines. Industry analysts project the U.S. could face a 50-million-ton cementitious materials supply gap by 2050—half of current
consumption—as permitting and building new cement plants can take a
decade or more.
Regulatory Burdens and Permitting Delays
Overly burdensome environmental regulations could result in cement kilns being shut down, idled, or operated at reduced capacity, further constraining U.S. clinker production at a time when housing construction needs are urgent. Complex permitting processes for new plants or plant modernization create lengthy approval timelines that prevent the industry from expanding capacity to meet demand. These regulatory obstacles increase operating costs for domestic producers, placing them at a competitive disadvantage relative to foreign manufacturers operating under different regulatory frameworks. The combined effect of these burdens is reduced investment in domestic cement
manufacturing infrastructure and innovation.
Import Competition and Quality Concerns
Imports now supply 22 percent of U.S. cement consumption, up from just 7 percent in 2012, with significant volumes coming from Turkey ($461 million), Vietnam ($211 million), and Greece ($104 million). High rates of low-quality foreign cement consumption threaten American economic security, undermine domestic manufacturing jobs, and introduce quality and performance risks into critical infrastructure and housing projects. This import dependence exposes the domestic construction industry to foreign
supply disruptions, volatile international shipping costs, and inconsistent material quality that can compromise building performance.
Policy Recommendations
Strengthen Buy America Requirements for Housing and Infrastructure
Current Build America, Buy America provisions exclude cement, creating a loophole that allows
foreign cement in federally funded projects. Closing this gap would ensure that federal housing
and infrastructure investments support American workers and communities.
- Require U.S.-sourced cement for all government-funded
infrastructure and housing projects to ensure taxpayer
dollars support American manufacturing, create
domestic jobs, and strengthen supply chain resilience.
Fast-Track Permits and Incentivize Domestic Production
The U.S. needs policies that would accelerate the timeline for bringing new domestic capacity online
and ensure American cement production can meet the nation’s housing and infrastructure needs.
- Establish expedited permitting processes and provide
tax credits for U.S. cement plants that modernize kilns,
reduce emissions, and commit to serving local supply
chains, enabling the industry to expand capacity
more quickly. - Streamline environmental review timelines for plant
upgrades and capacity expansions that incorporate
best-available emissions control technologies and
energy efficiency improvements.
Recognize Cement as Critical Infrastructure
Treating cement as critical infrastructure acknowledges its foundational role in housing affordability, economic development, and disaster recovery while ensuring policymakers prioritize domestic production capacity.
- Designate cement as a critical infrastructure input in
state and federal resilience plans, ensuring adequate
domestic supply during emergencies, natural disasters,
and periods of global supply chain disruption. - Develop strategic stockpile and surge capacity programs
that enable rapid response to regional cement
shortages that can halt housing construction and
infrastructure repair. - Coordinate federal housing, transportation, and
emergency management agencies to monitor cement
supply conditions and proactively address emerging
shortages that threaten construction timelines.
Enhance Import Transparency and Quality Assurance
Enhancing transparency and quality controls will protect American consumers, builders, and infrastructure investments while creating a level playing field for domestic manufacturers.
- Require state transportation departments to publish
an annual “Import Reliance Report” on construction
material documenting the volume, origin, and quality
metrics of imported cement and construction materials
used in public projects. - Require construction material importers to produce
cement mill and ASTM quality assurance testing
certificates for all imported materials to ensure they
meet U.S. performance and safety standards. - Strengthen customs and border enforcement to
prevent substandard imported cement from entering
U.S. markets and compromising building quality and
public safety.