US cement and clinker shipments up 3.5% in March

Shipments of cement in the US and Puerto Rico were up 3.5% y/y in March 2015 at 6.3 million t. Shipments for the year to the end of March reached 16.4 million t, a 5.7% increase y/y. California, Texas, Missouri, Florida and Alabama led the way in cement production. Texas, California, Florida, Georgia and Arizona were the leading consuming states and received about 45% of the shipments in March.

Clinker production was down 3.4% y/y at 5.5 million t, while for the year to date it was up 8.2% to 15.5 million t.

At 188 000 t, masonry cement shipments were up 4.8% y/y, with shipments for the year to end of March up 3.5% to 476 000 t.

Imports of cement and clinker, excluding informal entries, reached 775 000 t, a 66% increase y/y. Imports for the January – March period were up 39% to 1.75 million t. This partly reflects a depressed 1Q14 and may signify a normalisation.

Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/04062015/us-cement-and-clinker-shipments-up-in-march-950/