Cement

Cement is a fine powder used as a binding material in construction. It is made from limestone, clay, and other materials through a high-temperature process. The top producers of cement are China, India, and the United States. Cement is mainly used in the construction industry, particularly for creating concrete, mortar, and plaster, which form the backbone of modern infrastructure. It is also used as binder material in the process to produce refractories.

Sub-Category	Core Content Range	Size Range
Cement	Al2O3 68.5-70.6%	0-2 mm

Please note that the above listed sub-categories including its core content and size ranges are just a snapshot of Metalshub’s currently traded raw materials. We are adding new sub-categories on a monthly basis and would be happy to assess your specific requirements to this category.

Metalshub provides producers and consumers of cement with a software solution to improve the way they buy or sell it. Our software connects over 2,000 companies in a joint trading network. This allows sellers to discover new buyers of cement and buyers to discover new suppliers of cement.

For buyers, Metalshub’s Procurement Solution allows refractory producers and other consumers to digitalise their procurement process in order to increase sourcing efficiency, ensure compliant buying, and take data-driven decisions. For sellers, Metalshub’s Sales Solution allows sellers of cement to digitalise their sales process, manage inventory, and optimise their sales book.

The leading cement producers include:

• China – ~55% of global production, the largest producer and consumer of cement
• India – ~10%, with extensive cement production to support the construction sector
• United States – ~5%, focused on producing cement for domestic infrastructure
• Turkey – ~5%, a major producer for both domestic and export markets
• Vietnam – ~<5%, a growing exporter of cement to international markets

Cement is produced by extracting raw materials like limestone, clay, and shale, which are crushed and heated in kilns at high temperatures. The resulting clinker is then ground into fine powder to produce cement. The production process can vary depending on the type of cement being produced, such as Portland cement or other specialised varieties.

Cement is primarily used in construction (~90%), where it forms the basis for concrete, mortar, and other building materials. In the refractory industry, cement plays a crucial role as a binder material, particularly in the formulation of refractory castables, which are unshaped refractories. These castables are mixtures of refractory aggregates, bonding agents (like high-alumina or calcium aluminate cement), and additives.