In 2008 slag cement consumed as a separate product (conforming to ASTM C989) was 2.7 million metric tons. This was 11.0% below 2007 consumption level. Slag blended cements compared to 2007 dropped by 6.1%. This downturn in shipments was the result of downward economic pressures on the construction industry. During this same time period portland cement declined 15.6% and blended cement reported by the PCA declined 9.3%. Slag cement during the economic slowdown continues to gain market share over portland cement. In 2007 our market share was 3.0% and in 2008 in grew to 3.2%.

SCA attributes the continued overall market share growth of slag cement to increased geographic availability (particularly fast expansion on the west coast), wider acceptance of slag cement in concrete, successful efforts by the SCA to educate the construction and engineering communities on slag cement benefits, and the continuing accelerated interest in green construction (sustainability).

The use of slag cement provides substantial environmental benefits by replacing a portion of portland cement in concrete and other construction applications. Although portland cement is a necessary and proven ingredient in concrete, it also is produced from virgin materials in an energy-intensive process that generates greenhouse gases. Slag cement – a product recovered from a blast furnace during iron production – substantially lowers the embodied energy and emissions in concrete and reduces the amount of virgin material needed to produce concrete. The 3.4 million metric tons of slag used in 2007 (slag as a separate product and slag used in blended cements) represents the following environmental benefits:

 More resources: Link to 2008 US Geological Survey Commodity Survey for Iron and Steel Slag