2008 Overview
The Canadian cement industry is comprised of seventeen fully operational cement producing plants. Plant count increased by one beginning in 2006 with the inclusion of a new cement producer, Colacem, in the province of Quebec. There are no plants in Canada designated as "grinding only" (i.e. no operational kiln line). The Canadian cement plant network consists of sixteen gray clinker producing plants and one plant (Federal White Cement Ltd., Woodstock, Ontario) which produces white cement. Prior to the inclusion of Colacem, the last adjustment to the Canadian cement network occurred in 2000 with the acquisition of North Star Cement Ltd. in Corner Brook, Newfoundland by St. Lawrence Cement (now Holcim (Canada) Inc.) and its subsequent closure. A more recent adjustment is the early 2009 suspension of operations and eventual closure at Lafarge's Woodstock, Ontario plant.
Kiln count remained constant in 2008 with twenty-six kilns producing Canadian cement. Two wet process kilns at Lafarge's, Woodstock, Ontario plant and 24 dry process kilns comprise total Canadian clinker capacity. There was no inactive capacity reported in 2008. Average kiln capacity has grown nearly 65% in the past twenty years. The last significant change in ownership in the Canadian cement network occurred in mid-2001 when Votorantim Group of Brazil acquired the St. Mary's operations. A recent name change occurred in early 2009 with St. Lawrence Cement now operating as Holcim (Canada).
Clinker capacity increases were reported in three of the seventeen cement producing plants in Canada, these include: Lehigh, Edmonton, AB (+49,200 mt), Lafarge, Brookfield, NS (+55,610 mt), and Lafarge, Exshaw, AB (+64,672 mt). Nine cement operations reported clinker capacity declines with the largest reductions indicated by St. Marys, Bowmanville, ON (-268,500 mt); Ciment Quebec, St. Basile, PQ (-123,070 mt); and St. Marys, St. Marys, ON (-103,500 mt). The remaining six plants reported capacity declines totalling just over 129,000 mt. The Canadian cement industry averaged 39 down days in 2008, a notable increase from the 34 down days average reported in 2006. This is the first increase in average down days in the past ten years which had seen a steady improvement in down time since 1997.
At the end of 2008, fourteen plants reported using coal, coke, or a combination of the two fuels as primary kiln feed. Nine plants reported using alternative fuels alone or in combination with other fuels as an alternative energy source.
Lafarge is the largest cement company in Canada. Lafarge's seven cement plants combine for 5.618 mmt of clinker capacity and a 34.7% share of total Canadian capacity. St. Marys Cement ranks second with two operating plants accounting for 2.401 mmt of capacity and a 14.8% share of total capacity. St. Lawrence Cement, now Holcim (Canada), fills the third spot with a 14.1% share.
Regionally, cement production is concentrated in Ontario with 46.5% of total capacity (7 plants) located in this province. Quebec, with a 19% share of national capacity, ranks second among the provinces. The two largest cement plants in Canada are St. Marys Bowmanville, Ontario plant with 1.733 mmt of capacity and St. Lawrence's Mississauga, Ontario plant with 1.384 mmt of clinker capacity.