US cement and clinker shipments down in May

Sales of Portland and blended cement in the US and Puerto Rico were down 4.5% y/y in May 2015 to approximately 7.8 million t, according to the latest statistics from USGS. For the year to the end of May, shipments were up 2.6% y/y at 31.9 million t. The leading producing states in May were California, Missouri, Texas, Florida and Alabama, while the leading consuming states were Texas, California, Florida, Ohio and Illinois. These states received about 37% of the total May shipments.

Clinker production was also down in May 2015, at 6.7 million t. However, for the January – May period, clinker production was up 4.2% at 28.3 million t. In May, the leading clinker-producing states were Texas, California, Missouri, Florida and Pennsylvania, accounting for about 46% of total production.

Cement and clinker imports in May were 35% higher y/y at 1.1 million t. For the year to the end of May, imports were up 40% y/y at 3.7 million t. USGS attributes this gain in part to growth in some districts that have traditionally been reliant on imports, as well as production constraints in other districts, including those related to still idle kilns.

Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/04082015/us-cement-and-clinker-shipments-down-in-may-263/