Sunrise reports positive findings of US cement market study

Sunrise Resources released the findings of a comprehensive market study in collaboration with Cement Distribution Consultants of Amsterdam on Friday.

The AIM-traded firm said the primary focus of the study was to assess the potential market opportunities and growth predictions for cement, with particular emphasis on the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), like natural pozzolan.

It said the geographical regions of interest were the US, with an in-depth examination of California and Nevada - regions that Sunrise Resources aimed to target with its CS and Hazen natural pozzolan projects located in Nevada.

An exhaustive breakdown of the cement markets, detailed by counties in California and the two main population centres in Nevada - Reno and Las Vegas-Henderson - was provided.

Additionally, the study illustrated the production profiles of all the cement producers and ready-mix companies within California and Nevada and the cement movements between various US states.

One finding was the projection of a 10% annual growth rate in the consumption of cementitious materials in the US.

That included ordinary Portland cement, expected to rise from over 129 million tonnes in 2021 to exceed 154 million tonnes by 2030.

Contrarily, the production of ordinary Portland cement would remain unchanged, as no new facilities would be constructed, nor would there be any expansions to the existing plants.

The increase in cement consumption was forecast to come exclusively from a surge in the primary SCMs' use.

Sunrise said the study further predicted a remarkable rise in the US consumption and production of natural pozzolan, projecting an increase from a low base in 2021 to nearly six million tonnes annually by 2030.

California and Nevada were predicted to witness a significant upswing in the production of natural pozzolan stemming from the known resources of volcanic natural pozzolan, encompassing Sunrise Resources' Hazen and CS Projects in Nevada.

The company said its natural pozzolan projects were strategically positioned to capitalise on the impending shifts within the cement and concrete sectors.

A staggering forecast from the study indicated that the two states would collectively account for 62% of all SCMs consumed in the US.

“The study that we have commissioned provides a detailed breakdown by volume and location for all cement production and use of cement and SCMs in the US and is already proving to be a useful tool in our endeavours to find a development partner for our natural pozzolan projects in Nevada,” said executive chairman Patrick Cheetham.

“The company is currently waiting for a bulk sample from its Hazen natural pozzolan project to be test ground in a commercial grinding mill by an existing producer of natural pozzolan.

“It is also discussing joint development of its CS Natural Pozzolan Project with three companies.”

Cheetham said one was a large cement and ready-mix group, which had completed an extensive test work programme.

“The second is a materials company that is currently undertaking its own test work programme on CS natural pozzolan.

“The third is a cement company that is just starting its evaluation of the project.”

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.