Global white cement demand to increase over the next five years boosted by U.S. construction

In spite of the challenges the global economy has been facing over the past five years, heightened by Covid-19, the global white cement market managed to come out relatively unscathed, with demand slightly increasing between 2016 and 2021, according to the 2021 update of CW Research's Global White Cement Market and Trade Report.

Economic growth in the world is projected to continue to increase at a similar pace in over the next five years, as compared to the previous five-year period. As a result, white cement demand is foreseen to increase at a CAGR of over 1 percent between 2021 and 2026, boosted by demand growth in North America.

ÔÇ£In terms of consumption, the highest yearly increase was recorded in North America where consumption increased at an average of almost 5 percent per year in the 2016-2021 period, with the major driver being the residential housing sector, especially in the United States, where white cement is widely utilized in the southern states of Florida and Texas,ÔÇØ explains Carolina Pereira, CW Group's Manager, Advisory & Research.

China continues to account for the largest share of the global white cement demand

China remains the elephant in the room, be it gray or white cement. For white cement, China accounts for almost 36 percent of demand in 2021, being the third fastest growing region in terms of demand from 2016 to 2021, growing at a CAGR exceeding 1 percent.

In terms of output capabilities, China has the largest installed production capacity, with 52 production units, mostly destined for domestic consumption, as trade from the country is limited both in terms of imports and exports.

Per capita consumption to regain momentum by 2026F

From a per capita perspective, global white cement consumption is expected to regain momentum over the next five years, following a decline in consumption per capita between 2016 and 2021. Despite the expected growth at a CAGR of 0.5 percent, per capita consumption is expected, by 2026, to reach levels lower than registered in 2016 as a consequence of increased population growth rate exceeding white cement consumption growth.

Middle East per capita consumption remained far above the global average, being almost 5 times higher than the average. On the other hand, Asia ex-China and Africa had per capita consumption levels stood around one-third of the global average in 2021.

Eastern Europe and CIS emerges as the largest white cement exporting region

At the global level, Eastern Europe and CIS region is likely to displace Western Europe as the largest exporter of white cement in 2021, on the back of robust Turkish exports. Turkey is expected to ship 1.3 million tons of white cement this year alone.

Meanwhile, North America is expected to remain the largest import destination for white cement, followed by the Middle East. United States is expected to import the largest amount globally, with other major importers being Canada, Turkey, Mexico and others, with imports growing at a CAGR of 2 percent between 2016 and 2021.

The Global White Cement Market and Trade Report is CW Research's comprehensive assessment on worldwide white cement industry and presents the latest market data (demand and supply) covering the 2016-2021E period, with a 5-year medium-term forecast until 2026. The report includes white cement consumption and production figures, import and export data as well as pricing trends and white cement capacity developments.

Find out more about the report here.