Fly ash is fast becoming an industry and a major discipline in itself. Wide acceptance of fly ash as a resource material is opening up number of business and R&D opportunities coupled with conservation of environment and mineral resources inter-alia creating new employment generation opportunities and enhancing the industrial wealth of the nation. This opens up business opportunities for technology and equipment suppliers, cement / concrete manufacturers, consultants, contractors, construction agencies, Logistics service providers and R&D and Academia for Research.

Chemical additives will remain the largest product segment, comprising half of the total market in value terms. Gains will be led by strong demand for water reducers, especially high-range "superplasticizer" types, which are key components of self-consolidating concrete (SCC). Additionally, the rise of better-performing polycarboxylate superplasticizers will expand the range of applications for water reducers in concrete. The market for accelerators and air entrainers will be characterized by a trend away from traditional commodity products, although the performance of these alternative formulations remains in question.

Demand for mineral additives will grow nearly seven percent per year through 2010, with almost all products posting above-average gains. Fly ash and blast furnace slag will benefit from use as low-cost cementious materials in concrete mixes, as well as a positive environmental profile. Higher-value mineral additives such as silica fume and metakaolin will also see greater use in high-performance concrete applications. Although advances for synthetic fibers will be subpar, demand will be strong for steel and specialty fibers such as cellulose and alkali-resistant glass.