Japan’s demand for cement, a key component of concrete, shows little sign of bottoming out.
According to the Japan Cement Association, domestic demand in fiscal 2026, which will end in March next year, is projected to fall to 30 million tons, below the 31.05 million tons recorded in fiscal 1964, when Tokyo hosted the Olympic Games for the first time.
The decline reflects not only shrinking demand for construction, but also a deepening slowdown in construction activity caused by labor shortages and work-style reforms that have capped overtime hours.