Economic Contribution

An Important Sector of Canada's Economy

The eight member companies of the Cement Association of Canada operate 15 cement plants in five provinces and produce over 98% of the cement used in Canada.  Over 40% of the cement and concrete industry is vertically integrated, which means that many member companies also own and operate ready mix concrete, construction and aggregate businesses.  The cement industry is an important economic presence in communities across Canada.

2008 facts and figures on the Canadian cement and concrete industries

• Member companies produced 15 million tonnes of cement, worth more than $1.7 billion; 4.1 million tonnes were exported, primarily to the U.S.
• When cement and concrete sales are taken together, the industry was responsible for over $8.8 billion in sales, contributing over $3.2 billion to Canada's Gross Domestic Product.
• The industry employs over 27,000 Canadians in the production of cement, ready mix concrete and concrete construction materials.
• Cement is manufactured at 15 plants and delivered to more than 45 distribution centres across the country.
• Concrete products, such as ready-mix concrete, pipes, pre-cast structures, bricks and blocks are produced in 1,100 plants nation-wide.
• Approximately 28.1 million cubic metres of concrete (about one cubic metre per Canadian) are used each year in construction projects to:
  • pave roads, highways, sidewalks and parking lots
  • build homes, apartments and office towers
  • construct sewers and water treatment facilities
  • build storage and waste management facilities for agriculture
  • build bridges, ports, airports, dams, power plants and oil wells

Canadian Cement Companies

Cement is readily available in every region of Canada. Our eight companies operate 15 cement plants, which produced 15 million tonnes of cement in 2008.