Slag Cement Market Report 2025

The slag cement market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $15.89 billion in 2024 to $17.28 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to increasing demand for sustainable construction materials, expanded government investments in infrastructure, greater adoption in marine and coastal construction, heightened awareness of durability and long-term performance, and increased use in blended cement formulations.

The slag cement market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $23.92 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5%. The growth anticipated during the forecast period is driven by a stronger focus on the circular economy, rising urbanization and industrialization, increasing costs of traditional clinker-based cement, expanding construction activities, and a growing demand for eco-friendly building materials. Key trends expected include advancements in cement blending technologies, incorporation of slag cement into sustainable building certifications, technological improvements in slag grinding and activation, innovations in high-performance concrete formulations, and increased collaboration between the steel and cement industries.

The rise in residential construction activities is expected to drive the growth of the slag cement market moving forward. Residential construction involves building or renovating structures such as houses, apartments, and condominiums intended for living purposes. This activity is increasing due to population growth, which raises the demand for new housing to accommodate more residents. Slag cement enhances the strength and durability of concrete used in residential construction, contributing to longer-lasting and more environmentally friendly homes. For example, in June 2025, the United States Census Bureau reported that privately owned housing completions reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,526,000 in May, a 5.4% increase compared to the revised April figure of 1,448,000. Single-family housing completions were recorded at a rate of 1,027,000 for May, representing an 8.1% rise from the revised April rate of 950,000. Hence, the increase in residential construction is propelling the slag cement market.

Leading companies in the slag cement market are concentrating on launching innovative initiatives, such as new slag cement production facilities, to boost capacity, satisfy rising demand for sustainable construction materials, and reduce carbon emissions associated with traditional cement manufacturing. Slag cement facilities are specialized plants where ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) is processed into slag cement, serving as an eco-friendly substitute for conventional Portland cement in concrete production. For instance, in April 2024, Heidelberg Materials, a Germany-based building materials manufacturer, through its joint venture with Eagle Materials Inc., a US-based building materials producer, inaugurated a new slag cement plant. The facility, with an annual capacity of approximately 500,000 tons, is designed to complement their existing cement operations and meet increasing regional demand for sustainable, high-performance building materials. This strategic move reflects both companies’ commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of their products and promoting environmentally responsible construction.

In August 2024, Ambuja Cements Limited, an India-based cement manufacturer, completed the acquisition of Penna Cement Industries for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition aims to substantially enhance Ambuja Cement’s market presence in southern and eastern India, increase overall production capacity by integrating Penna Cement’s operational and upcoming facilities, and advance its long-term goal of becoming a leading, cost-efficient cement producer in the country. Penna Cement Industries is an India-based manufacturer of portland slag cement (PSC).

Major players in the slag cement market are CRH plc, Holcim Ltd., HeidelbergCement AG, CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V., UltraTech Cement, Vicat S.A., Ambuja Cements Limited, Votorantim Cimentos S.A., Titan Cement International S.A., Dalmia Cement Limited, ACC Limited, Birla Corporation, The Ramco Cements Limited, JSW Cement Limited, Buzzi Unicem S.p.A., Binani Cement Limited, AshakaCem PLC, MP Birla Cement Limited, Lafarge S.A., CIMAF S.A., Eurocement Group, and Eugene Basic Materials Co. Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the slag cement market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in slag cement report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the slag cement market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The steep increase in U.S. tariffs and the triggered trade tensions in spring 2025 are profoundly impacting the metal and minerals sector by disrupting supply chains for automakers, appliance manufacturers, and infrastructure projects. Domestic mills have raised prices in response to reduced import competition, but capacity constraints limit their ability to meet demand. Mining firms, meanwhile, grapple with retaliatory tariffs on mineral exports, particularly lithium and rare earths. Industry players are investing in scrap metal recycling, lobbying for exemptions, and forming joint ventures with overseas producers to secure stable supply.

Slag cement is a type of hydraulic cement made by grinding granulated blast furnace slag, a byproduct of iron manufacturing and blending it with Portland cement or using it as a partial substitute. It improves the durability, strength, and workability of concrete while enhancing its resistance to chemical attacks and lowering the heat generated during hydration.

The main categories of slag cement include ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), Portland slag cement (PSC), supersulfated cement, and others. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) is produced as a byproduct from iron production blast furnaces, where molten slag is quickly cooled with water and then finely ground into powder. This cement is used in various applications such as ready-mix concrete, precast concrete, high-performance concrete, mass concrete, shotcrete, concrete blocks and pavers, mortars and grouts, soil stabilization, and more. It serves a wide range of end users including residential, commercial, infrastructure, and industrial construction sectors.

The slag cement market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides slag cement market statistics, including slag cement industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a slag cement market share, detailed slag cement market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the slag cement industry. This slag cement market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The slag cement market consists of sales of products including lafarge slag cement, skyway slag cement, blast furnace slag cement (PSC), and newcem slag cement. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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