Since the rapid economic growth in the 1960's, with an increased demand for cement, the tendency to use fresh concrete and transport in bulk has increased. This tendency has resulted in the development of seaside plants and shipping transportation, and in an increase of seaside Cement service stations as transit bases. On the other hand, the growth of inland plants and Cement service stations which rely on railways, tends to have stagnated. That is, since the character of cement is only minimally suited to freightage, a seaside plant is more lucrative than an inland plant in the respect of transportation. As for the areal trend of cement, transport is mainly from Chugoku and Kyushu, where excess cement is produced, to Kanto and Kinki area, and the distributing area of a seaside plant is wide compared to the narrow inland plant's area. An example of the distributing range of the Tokai area can be illustrated by seaside Cement service stations which are supplied from distant areas, mainly Chugoku and Kyushu, and inland Cement service stations, supplied from a nearby area within 50km to 150km. Areas to be distributed differ according to makers. The makers who use seaside Cement service stations mainly supply in a wide range. Makers can be divided from a view-point of sales area into nationwide makers and local makers.
The former plants are mainly seaside and their production is large. The latter plants are mainly inland or smalloutput seaside plants with a few plants in either location.