According to the Slag Cement Association (SCA), the U.S. reached a historic high of more than 4 million metric tons of slag cement shipments in 2025 — calling it a landmark achievement for the industry.
This record-setting milestone signals a decisive shift toward next-generation construction materials that deliver enhanced durability, long-term performance and a substantially lower environmental impact. It reflects not only growing demand, but a broader industry commitment to building smarter and more sustainably at scale.
Momentum extended beyond slag cement alone with blended cements containing slag experiencing unprecedented growth. Shipments increased 18% in 2025, contributing to a compound annual growth rate of nearly 6% since 2020. Together, these gains highlight a clear and accelerating transformation across the concrete industry driven by performance, innovation and the urgent need for more sustainable infrastructure solutions.
Nick Brimley, SCA Marketing and Membership Director, attributed the record-breaking year to expansion of the SCA membership. CalPortland, Silvi Materials, Texas Lehigh Cement, and Sathi USA have joined since 2024. "Their addition has greatly enhanced the industry's capacity to meet the rising demand for slag cement across the U.S. market,” says Brimley.
What Drove the Surge?
A primary driver for this surge is the rapid development of global digital infrastructure. Hyperscalers are increasingly specifying slag cement for massive data center campuses to meet aggressive sustainability targets while ensuring long-term structural integrity. Because slag cement provides enhanced resistance to environmental stressors and lower embodied carbon, it has become a preferred material for the heavy-duty foundations and complex structural requirements of the tech and artificial intelligence sectors.
Looking ahead, the SCA expects these volumes to remain on a steady upward trajectory. As both hyperscale developers and civil infrastructure projects prioritize resilient, low-carbon materials, slag cement is uniquely positioned to remain at the forefront of modern concrete construction.
