Raw Materials Used To Produce Clinker And Cement In The United States

This table provides detailed data on the quantities of various raw materials used in the production of clinker and cement in the United States for the years 2022 and 2023. These raw materials are categorized by their chemical properties, including calcareous, aluminous, ferrous, siliceous, and other materials such as gypsum and miscellaneous additives. Understanding the consumption of these materials is crucial for assessing the cement industry's supply chain, resource utilization, and economic impact, as cement production is a fundamental component of construction and infrastructure development. Tracking changes in raw material use also helps identify trends in industrial efficiency, substitution of materials, and potential environmental considerations.

Analysis of the data reveals that total raw material usage for clinker production slightly decreased from 131 million metric tons in 2022 to 129 million metric tons in 2023, while cement production raw material usage increased from 12.1 million to 13.1 million metric tons. Limestone remains the dominant calcareous material, with a slight decrease in clinker use from 108 million to 107 million metric tons but a notable increase in cement use from 6,060 to 7,110 thousand metric tons. Cement rock usage declined in both clinker and cement categories. Among aluminous materials, clay and shale/schist consumption rose modestly, indicating a possible shift toward these inputs. Ferrous material usage showed minor declines, with iron ore dropping from 883 to 831 thousand metric tons. Siliceous materials like sand and fly ash saw mixed trends; fly ash decreased from 2,190 to 1,860 thousand metric tons for clinker but increased slightly in cement use. Granulated blast furnace slag use in cement dropped significantly from 213 to 143 thousand metric tons. Overall, these shifts suggest subtle changes in raw material sourcing and processing within the U.S. cement industry during this period.