The American Cement Association (ACA) released a report predicting that the U.S. will need about 1 million metric tons of cement to build data centers housing AI technology over the next few years.
Due to the unique design considerations of data centers, they are typically constructed with a high volume of concrete.
According to the ACA report, analysts found that, over the past decade, inflation-adjusted spending on data centers is up nearly 850 percent – with a 55 percent jump in 2024 alone. By 2027, forecasters anticipate the number of data centers in the U.S. to reach 6,000.
Annual spending on data centers is now around $27.4 billion, according to ACA. More than 5,400 data centers are currently present in the U.S.
“President Trump has said he’s determined to make the U.S. the global leader in AI, and America’s cement manufacturers want to provide the materials to build the infrastructure necessary to make that possible,” says Mike Ireland, president and CEO of ACA. “Such facilities are engineered primarily for function and resilience. Concrete – made with cement – is the optimal construction material, as it is fire resistant, offers thermal stability, provides unparalleled physical security and has long-term structural integrity. There really is no other viable material for such an important nationwide effort.”
Other findings
ACA’s report also details how data centers accounted for 4.4 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption in 2023. By 2028, they could consume between 7 percent and 12 percent of all U.S. electricity.
Additionally, the ACA report finds that virtually every state will benefit from data center construction over the next three years. Still, a few states far exceed the rest in anticipated projects – including Texas, Virginia, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois and Ohio.
Over the last 10 years, the role of data centers in office-related construction has increased 550 percent. In 2014, data centers accounted for just under 4 percent of office-related construction spending. In 2024, they surpassed 26 percent and are on track to reach 38.6 percent by 2027.
The ACA report also notes that while data centers directly bolster construction, they indirectly support economic and construction activity – particularly in rural and underdeveloped areas. This multiplier effect leads to increased retail, utility, infrastructure and housing construction, according to ACA.
Related: ACA: Cement consumption to decline before rising in 2026-27
