Disciplined Housekeeping - terminologies & unitsCement (dry powder) is sold and priced by the ton
Ready Mix Concrete (RMX) is sold by the cubic yard or cubic meter. (cement + water + sand + aggregate + admixtures = RMX).
A cement kiln is a $300M capital investment that takes 5-6 years of permitting (and is done by well-capitalized international players, yes - some regionals too - if they have not been consolidated). High barriers to entry, on permitting more than capital.
An RMX Batch plant costs $350K - $1.1M brand new, and is a local business that guys like me can buy and operate (i.e. very low barriers to entry).
Aggregate is sold by ton.
(I see posts about "putting up a cement plant" - I think what is meant is "putting up an RMX batch plant").