Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing Industry Profile

Companies in this industry manufacture clay products and refractories, glass and glass products, cement and concrete products, lime and gypsum products, and abrasives and other nonmetallic mineral products. Major companies include 3M, Guardian Industries, and Kohler (all based in the US), as well as AGC and Noritake (both of Japan), Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (France), CRH (Ireland), Knauf Gips (Germany), LafargeHolcim (Switzerland), and RHI Magnesita (the Netherlands).

Leading countries for the manufacture of nonmetallic mineral products include China, France, Germany, Japan, and the US. China is a leading consumer of many nonmetallic mineral products including cement, glass products, abrasives, and refractories.

The US nonmetallic mineral products industry includes about 15,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $125 billion. Coverage of key components of the nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing industry can be found in the following industry profiles: Abrasives Manufacturing, Cement & Concrete Product Manufacturing, China & Earthenware Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing, Clay Product & Refractory Manufacturing, and Glass & Glass Product Manufacturing.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by industrial production and construction spending. Profitability depends on efficient operations, as many products are essentially commodities that compete primarily on price. Large companies have advantages of scale in purchasing and the ability to invest in equipment and technology that improve efficiency. Small companies can compete by offering specialized products, or by serving local markets. Overall, the industry in the ...