Concrete Technology in Mexico: Properties, Innovations, Infrastructure, and Sustainability

Concrete—also called reinforced concrete or cement concrete (and commonly “hormigón” in some Spanish-speaking countries)—is the cornerstone of modern infrastructure, and in Mexico it represents a fundamental pillar of construction. Mexico’s cement and concrete industry produces around 44 million tons per year, making it a backbone of the national economy.

Modern architecture.

This technical blog post explores the properties of concrete, recent technological advances in concrete technology in Mexico, its applications in Mexican infrastructure, sustainability in its production and use, as well as the current challenges facing Mexico’s concrete industry.

Fundamental properties of concrete

Concrete is a composite material made from cement (generally Portland), aggregates (sand, gravel), water, and admixtures as needed. As it sets, the cement paste hardens and forms a stone-like, resistant mass. Concrete properties are the basic characteristics or qualities that determine performance. According to the Mexican Cement and Concrete Institute (IMCYC), the four main properties of concrete are: workability, cohesiveness, strength, and durability.

• Workability refers to how easily the fresh mix can be handled, transported, and placed on site without segregating. It depends on factors such as water content, aggregate size and shape, use of admixtures, temperature, etc. Adequate workability is crucial to achieve proper placement in elements with high reinforcement density or complex forms.

• Cohesiveness is the ability of the fresh mix to remain uniform, avoiding segregation (separation of coarse aggregate from the paste) and excessive bleeding (water rising to the surface). Cohesive concrete ensures homogeneity throughout the mass.

• Mechanical strength is typically the compressive strength the concrete reaches after hardening (the f’c value). In Mexico, common structural concretes usually have strengths of 250 kg/cm² (25 MPa) and above, and may exceed 400 kg/cm² in special projects. Strength depends on the water–cement ratio, cement and aggregate quality, concrete age, curing conditions, among other factors.

• Durability is the ability of hardened concrete to resist aggressive environmental conditions and the passage of time without significant deterioration. Durable concrete must withstand wetting and drying cycles, chemical attack (sulfates, chlorides), abrasion, temperature changes, and other agents, maintaining integrity and performance over decades. Durability is linked to achieving low-permeability mixes (low water–cement ratio, use of pozzolanic additions, etc.) and to proper design considering the exposure environment.

Other relevant properties include density, modulus of elasticity, drying shrinkage, creep (slow deformation under sustained load), and tensile strength (low in plain concrete, which is why it is complemented with steel reinforcement). In sum, concrete offers a unique combination of fresh-state versatility (it can take virtually any shape) and hardened-state strength—qualities that explain its widespread use in civil works worldwide.

Recent technological advances in concrete technology in Mexico

Concrete technology has evolved rapidly over recent decades, and Mexico has kept pace with many of these innovations. Recent advances aim to improve performance, durability, and sustainability, as well as adapt to modern construction needs. Key developments include:

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC)

These are advanced concretes formulated with fine aggregates, high cement dosages, mineral additions (silica fume, slag), and steel fibers, achieving compressive strengths on the order of 120 to 150 MPa, with exceptional ductility and toughness. UHPC features an extremely dense microstructure (very low water–cement ratios < 0.25, often with superplasticizers), which gives it very high durability (practically zero porosity) and flexural and tensile strengths outside the conventional concrete range. Introduced globally in recent years, UHPC enables slender, lightweight elements with reduced sections and, in some cases, partial or total substitution of steel reinforcement due to its intrinsic ductility and strength.

In Mexico, the use of high- and ultra-high-performance concretes is beginning to appear in infrastructure projects and special buildings that demand long service life and minimal maintenance. A historic example of high-performance vision is the Progreso Pier (Yucatán), built starting in 1937 with concrete designed for zero maintenance for 100 years. That pioneering work used highly durable concrete with minimal steel (including stainless steel in critical areas), allowing it to remain in good condition more than 80 years later—validating the concept of high-performance concrete focused on extreme durability. Today, UHPC and high-performance concretes are being studied for bridges, towers, and precast elements in Mexico due to their strength and service-life advantages.

Self-healing concrete (bio-concrete)

One of the most notable research lines is the development of concretes capable of autonomously “healing” their own cracks. In Mexico, scientists at Tecnológico de Monterrey have created a cement with a Bacillus subtilis bacterial additive that, when mixed into concrete, captures CO₂ and converts it into calcium carbonate to seal fissures—similar to how a skin wound forms a scab. This bio-concrete can heal small cracks (1–2 mm) in a few weeks when exposed to moisture, because dormant bacterial spores activate with water, consume nutrients and CO₂, and precipitate calcium carbonate crystals that fill the crack.

Incorporating microorganisms not only helps self-repair microcracks and extend structural life, but also contributes to carbon capture, aligning with sustainability goals. A key challenge has been “training” bacteria to survive in cement’s highly alkaline environment, achieved by protecting them in capsules or porous materials within the mix. This advancement—still at the research stage—could transform concrete-structure maintenance in Mexico in the future by reducing repair costs.

3D printing with conventional concrete

Three-dimensional (3D) printing of construction elements is already a reality that promises faster builds and reduced waste. In 2024, Mexico produced its first structural elements through 3D concrete printing: Techint, in collaboration with CEMEX, printed 49 prefabricated stormwater drainage trenches for an industrial project (the Southeast Gateway Project). This milestone involved a large-format printer (COBOD’s BOD2 model) and, notably, a special admixture developed by CEMEX (D.fab) that allowed the use of conventional concrete with local aggregates instead of costly imported mortars.

Mexico’s 3D concrete-printing approach stands out for including coarse aggregate in the mix, enabling additive manufacturing of larger-volume components with structural performance. The printed pieces did not require steel reinforcement, so structural design was adapted to rely on geometry and the material itself. The project demonstrated multiple benefits: off-site fabrication under controlled conditions (better quality and safety, no exposure to weather), optimized shapes using less material, fewer human errors, and a reduced CO₂ footprint thanks to robotics and precise material use. In coming years, this technology is expected to expand to more regions and project types—from social housing to infrastructure—marking a new innovative direction for concrete technology in Mexico.

Other innovations

Additional advances include permeable concretes (allow water infiltration—useful for urban pavements and aquifer recharge), photocatalytic concretes (with titanium dioxide additives that, in sunlight, help break down atmospheric pollutants on concrete surfaces), and the growing use of polymer, glass, or metallic fibers for reinforcement (fiber-reinforced concrete, improving toughness and crack control). Digitalization in concrete proportioning and quality control—such as automated systems measuring slump, temperature, and strength in real time—is also improving consistency and efficiency in ready-mix production. In Mexico, leading companies are adopting computerized control and IoT sensors in plants and on site to monitor curing. Overall, concrete is shifting from a “static” traditional material to a highly technological one optimized by materials science, biotechnology, and advanced digital tools.

Concrete applications in Mexican infrastructure

Concrete plays a leading role in Mexican infrastructure, being the preferred material for civil works due to availability, cost-effectiveness, and durability. In Mexico, hundreds of bridges, roads, dams, buildings, and urban works are fundamentally made of reinforced concrete, leveraging its compressive strength and adaptability to virtually any required form. Key applications and examples include:

La Yesca Dam in Nayarit–Jalisco (inaugurated in 2012), an example of high-volume concrete infrastructure in Mexico.

Highways and urban roadways

Hydraulic concrete is widely used in high-traffic highways, urban pavements, and federal roads that require long life and high resistance to heavy loads. A flagship case is the Autopista Urbana Norte in Mexico City—an elevated 9 km viaduct that eases traffic on the Periférico ring road. It was built using high-performance, post-tensioned precast concrete elements, accelerating construction and minimizing traffic disruption. Columns, beams, and slabs were designed with high-strength concrete capable of withstanding heavy loads, thermal variation, and continuous vibration, ensuring decades of service with minimal maintenance. The Autopista Urbana Norte has been recognized for showing how concrete can solve infrastructure challenges in dense urban settings, integrating slenderly and functionally into the city landscape.

Similarly, many intercity highways in Mexico—such as sections of the Mexico–Querétaro and Guadalajara–Colima routes—use hydraulic concrete pavements due to durability under intense truck traffic. Although initial investment is higher than asphalt, concrete reduces long-term maintenance costs.

Bridges and special structures

A large share of Mexico’s vehicle and pedestrian bridges are made of reinforced or prestressed (post-tensioned) concrete, because the material enables beams and segments with high capacity and long spans. A notable example is the Baluarte Bridge (between Durango and Sinaloa), one of the tallest cable-stayed bridges in the world, whose piers and main structural elements use high-strength concrete to support its height and withstand the region’s seismic and wind loads. Another example is urban viaduct systems such as the Viaducto Bicentenario in the State of Mexico, where prefabricated prestressed sections enabled rapid construction over an existing roadway. These projects demonstrate concrete’s reliability for slender yet robust forms.

Dams and hydraulic works

Mexico has many major dams (such as El Cajón, Malpaso, Infiernillo, etc.), many built wholly or partially with concrete. In particular, La Yesca Dam (between Nayarit and Jalisco) is one of the largest of its kind (rockfill with a concrete face), with a 208-meter-high concrete face as part of a larger hydroelectric project. The dam’s concrete face ensures reservoir impermeability, resisting hydrostatic pressure and protecting the rockfill core.

Concrete dams must be designed carefully to control hydration heat in massive elements and prevent cracking, using methods such as internal cooling or roller-compacted concrete in lifts. These monumental structures show concrete at large scale, with material volumes in the millions of cubic meters. Their success in Mexico is reflected in water and energy security provided over decades.

High-rise buildings and urban infrastructure

In buildings, concrete is the predominant structural material in Mexico, especially for high-rises and construction in seismic zones. A standout example is Torre Reforma in Mexico City (244 m tall), with an innovative mixed system where massive reinforced concrete walls form the skyscraper’s main spine, providing lateral seismic resistance. These high-strength concrete walls—visible on the façade—act as giant seismic dampers along with steel components, proving concrete can be used for slender, seismically safe buildings.

More broadly, many modern Mexican skyscrapers and corporate buildings (Torre Mayor, Torre KOI, Torre BBVA, etc.) use high-specification concrete (f’c > 600 kg/cm² in some columns) and designs that maximize ductility (e.g., seismic detailing of connections, use of concrete cores). In urban infrastructure, metro stations, interchanges, underpasses, underground parking, and even monuments (such as the Estela de Luz) are built with reinforced concrete. Its construction versatility allows complex architectural forms—from the curves of the Soumaya Museum (which has a concrete skeleton) to vaults and domes in large shopping centers—while meeting Mexico’s strict structural standards.

In short, concrete appears in virtually every category of Mexican infrastructure: it provides robustness for highways and bridges, mass for dams and foundations, and flexibility for architectural forms in buildings. Its role in national connectivity and development is indispensable, and as needs evolve (greater urbanization, energy demand, mass transit, etc.), concrete will continue adapting through new technologies to remain Mexico’s material of choice.

Sustainability in concrete production and use

Concrete sustainability has become a central topic worldwide, and Mexico is no exception. On one hand, concrete supports sustainable development through durable, safe structures; on the other, cement production (concrete’s main component) has a significant environmental impact. The cement industry is responsible for approximately 7–8% of global CO₂ emissions, with cement being the most consumed material in the world after water. In Mexico, the construction industry (including production of materials such as cement) is estimated to generate up to 50% of national polluting emissions. This is mainly because clinker production (cement’s base component) releases CO₂ both from fossil-fuel combustion in kilns and from the chemical decarbonation of limestone (about 600 kg of CO₂ per ton of clinker produced). Reducing concrete’s carbon footprint is therefore one of the industry’s greatest environmental challenges.

In response, cement and concrete companies in Mexico are adopting multiple sustainability strategies:

Low-carbon cements and concretes

Major producers have launched greener product lines. For example, CEMEX introduced its Vertua range in 2022—lower-carbon concretes achieved by reducing clinker content (using supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, natural pozzolans) and using advanced plasticizing admixtures to maintain strength. Holcim Mexico developed ECOPlanet cements and ECOPact concretes that reduce embodied CO₂ by 30–65% compared to traditional mixes. In fact, over four years Holcim mitigated 1.7 million tons of CO₂ with ECOPlanet, and green concretes like ECOPact already account for 25% of its sales in Mexico.

One application example is the Libertad Dam (Nuevo León), where low-carbon concrete reportedly saved around 80,000 tons of CO₂ emissions, contributing to a more sustainable hydraulic project. Likewise, Torre Moranta (an office building in Monterrey) became the first project in Mexico built 100% with ECOPact concrete, reportedly avoiding 1,520 tons of CO₂ emissions. These examples show it is possible to build infrastructure with a lower environmental footprint without sacrificing performance.

Industrial process improvements

Mexican cement companies have committed to decarbonization roadmaps for 2030 and 2050. For instance, CEMEX set ambitious targets such as reducing emissions to 475 kg CO₂/ton of cement by 2030 (a >40% reduction vs. 1990) and limiting concrete emissions to an average of 165 kg CO₂/m³. To achieve this, it is investing in technologies such as increased use of alternative fuels (biomass and waste), hydrogen injection in combustion, low-temperature clinker development, decarbonated raw materials (e.g., calcined clays that require less energy than limestone), and higher pozzolanic addition content. These measures, along with energy optimization and renewable energy adoption, aim to make cement manufacturing cleaner.

Companies are also exploring carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) from kiln gases, though these are still pilot-stage and costly. It is also worth noting that concrete production itself offers mitigation opportunities: technologies such as CarbonCure (injecting CO₂ into fresh concrete during mixing) are being studied so concrete can sequester carbon during setting.

Circular economy and recycling

Another key strategy is promoting material reuse and recycling within the concrete industry. In Mexico, the use of recycled aggregates from crushed demolition concrete is being encouraged for new non-structural concretes (e.g., pavement bases, fills, or sidewalk concrete). Companies such as Holcim report programs to triple recycling of demolition waste in their processes, replacing virgin raw materials with recycled ones.

Likewise, co-processing industrial byproducts (metallurgical slags, power-plant ashes, etc.) as cementitious additions reduces landfill waste and decreases clinker content per cubic meter of concrete. A notable research area is the use of agricultural biomass ash (rice husk ash, sugarcane bagasse ash, etc.) as a supplementary pozzolan; these byproducts can partially replace Portland cement, reducing emissions while improving durability. This aligns with a circular economy approach in which one industry’s waste becomes another’s input, minimizing the overall environmental footprint.

Permeable concretes and urban solutions

In concrete use, sustainability also involves designing structures that interact better with the urban environment. Permeable concretes, for example, are porous mixes that allow rainwater to infiltrate the subsoil rather than fully running off into drains, supporting aquifer recharge and reducing flooding. Several Mexican cities have started implementing permeable pavements in parking lots, walkways, and parks. Another innovation is photocatalytic pavements on high-traffic urban roads: by adding TiO₂ nanoparticles to the concrete surface, sunlight helps break down nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other vehicle pollutants, improving air quality. While still limited in adoption, these technologies point to concrete that actively contributes to cleaner, more resilient cities.

In summary, achieving more sustainable concrete requires action across the value chain: using alternative materials and fuels in cement production, optimizing lower-CO₂ concrete mixes, and designing durable structures requiring minimal maintenance (extending service life) and that can eventually be recycled. The sustainability movement in Mexican concrete has strengthened in recent years, aligned with international emissions-reduction commitments and national policies promoting green buildings. Although technological and economic hurdles remain—such as higher costs for some low-carbon cements or immaturity of certain technologies (CCUS, hydrogen)—the industry is pursuing a major opportunity to innovate and grow competitively with greener concrete.

Current challenges facing Mexico’s concrete industry

Despite the advances described, Mexico’s concrete industry faces significant challenges in the current and near-future context. Key challenges include:

Decarbonization and costs

The foremost global challenge is the need to drastically reduce CO₂ emissions associated with concrete. For Mexico’s cement industry, this implies substantial investment to modernize plants, change processes, and potentially incur higher production costs. A McKinsey report notes that many decarbonization technologies (carbon capture, new processes) “are not yet technically or economically viable” or remain in pilot phases, making the path to carbon neutrality expensive and long-term.

Regulatory and market initiatives (carbon taxes, requirements for lower-footprint materials) are expected to become stricter, pushing the industry to adapt quickly. An interesting implication is that, as designers seek to use less concrete per structure (through optimized designs or alternative materials) to reduce emissions, future demand for cement and concrete volume could decrease. Companies may need to adapt business models to remain profitable while producing “greener” concrete—possibly in lower volumes and at higher unit cost. The key will be innovation to produce more cleanly without driving prices sharply upward, and collaboration with government to establish sustainable construction standards supported by incentives.

Global competition and raw materials

Mexico is a significant cement exporter (mainly to the U.S. and Latin America), but it faces competition from multinationals and Asian producers that may have lower costs. To remain competitive, local industry must improve operational efficiency. Ensuring a reliable supply of quality raw materials is also critical: availability of natural aggregates near urban centers decreases over time (forcing gravel and sand to be hauled from farther away, increasing costs). Water scarcity in some regions can also constrain concrete production, increasing reliance on recycled water or water-reducing admixtures.

The raw-material challenge requires long-term planning for sustainable aggregate quarrying and development of alternative aggregates (e.g., manufactured sands from crushing, or recycled concrete) to avoid exclusive dependence on virgin resources.

Quality and specialized labor

Although concrete is widely known, production and placement quality is not always uniform. Poor site practices still occur: incorrect batching, insufficient curing, inadequate vibration, etc., leading to premature pathologies (cracking, low strength, accelerated reinforcement corrosion). A major challenge is improving workforce and technician training, especially as new technologies are introduced (e.g., self-compacting concrete, specialized admixtures). IMCYC and other institutions offer diplomas and courses in concrete technology in Mexico to address this, but broader quality culture is needed.

Additionally, skilled labor shortages in construction may worsen, so the industry may need more automation (plant prefabrication, 3D printing, etc.) to ensure consistent results.

Resilient infrastructure and maintenance

Mexico’s geography exposes it to strong earthquakes, hurricanes, and intense rainfall. Concrete structures must meet increasing resilience requirements. Mexican standards (such as Mexico City’s Construction Regulations and Complementary Technical Standards) are periodically updated to incorporate lessons from earthquakes and other events; however, many older concrete structures were designed under less stringent codes. A major challenge is rehabilitating and strengthening existing infrastructure (buildings, bridges) to meet modern safety standards.

After the 2017 earthquake, evaluations of concrete buildings intensified and strengthening measures (additional elements, carbon-fiber wraps on columns) were implemented. Regarding maintenance, while concrete requires relatively little compared to other materials, deterioration in aggressive environments (coastal, industrial) demands attention. Reinforcement corrosion is the main durability threat; the industry must promote preventive maintenance practices (periodic inspections, protective coatings, minor repairs) before damage becomes critical. Implementing asset-management programs for concrete bridges and civil works will help anticipate interventions and extend structural service life—an inherently sustainable strategy (maximizing the life of what is already built).

Digital transformation and continuous innovation

Finally, in an increasingly technological world, Mexico’s concrete industry faces the challenge of modernizing to improve productivity. Adoption of digital management systems, BIM modeling for civil works, IoT sensors embedded in concrete (for in-situ strength monitoring), and similar tools is slow but rising. One example is Mexican company Concreco, which implemented an integrated ERP system to manage everything from production to delivery logistics, reportedly optimizing operations by 50% and significantly reducing time and errors. This case shows how digitalization can boost competitiveness by improving traditional processes.

However, many mid-sized and small sector companies still do not invest in these technologies. The challenge is convincing all stakeholders—including material suppliers, contractors, and public agencies—of the benefits of Construction 4.0 applied to concrete: real-time data, stronger quality control, traceability, and on-site coordination. Innovation must also penetrate corporate culture; the concrete industry tends to be conservative, but amid market shifts (sustainability, new materials, variable demand), those who do not innovate risk falling behind.

Mexico’s concrete industry is at a pivotal stage: it is more relevant than ever for supporting national growth and infrastructure (with forecasts of moderate cement demand increases due to infrastructure investment and nearshoring), yet it must transform to become more sustainable, efficient, and resilient. Current challenges require collaboration among academia, government, and the private sector to develop tomorrow’s solutions—from greener concretes to safer and more productive construction systems. The good news is that concrete, with more than 150 years of extensive use, has proven highly adaptable. With science, technology, and Mexican ingenuity, it will continue evolving to build the future responsibly.

Concrete has been—and will remain—the leading material of construction in Mexico. Its unique properties of fresh-state workability and hardened-state robustness have earned it an indisputable place in Mexican infrastructure, from roads and bridges to skyscrapers and dams. Today, concrete technology in Mexico advances alongside global innovation: ultra-high-performance concretes, self-healing mixes using biotechnology, 3D printing methods, and other cutting-edge techniques are expanding the capabilities of this long-established material.

At the same time, there is a strong sustainability awareness around concrete: the industry is working to reduce its carbon footprint, optimize resource use, and make processes more environmentally friendly. Mexico is adopting low-carbon cements and concretes, recycling materials, and aligning construction with international climate goals—evidence of responsibility and long-term vision.

Finally, current challenges have been identified—from the pressing need for decarbonization and digital modernization to ensuring durability and resilience. Addressing these will require investment in R&D, updated regulations, workforce training, and close collaboration among all construction-industry stakeholders.

In summary, the outlook for concrete in Mexico is one of continuous evolution. With technology and sustainability as core pillars, concrete will remain the foundation upon which national progress is built, adapting to the needs of coming decades without losing its essential qualities. Engineers, architects, and technicians are called upon to lead this transformation so that Mexican concrete becomes synonymous with quality, innovation, and environmental responsibility in the construction world.

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