US January shipments rise 25% YoY

Total shipments of Portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico for January 2012 rose by 25 per cent YoY, data from the US Geological Survey shows, while imports were nearly double those of January 2011.

Shipments during the month were 4.6Mt and continued to reflect mild winter weather conditions and a trend of increased consumption that began in May 2011. The leading producing states in January were Texas, California, Missouri, Florida, and Alabama, in descending order.

The leading consuming states (Texas, California, Florida, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, in descending order) received about 44% of the January total shipments.

Clinker production totaled 4.3Mt in January, nearly 24% higher than output in January 2011 and the increase paralleled that of cement consumption. The leading clinker-producing states in January were Texas, California, Missouri, Florida, and Pennsylvania, in descending order, and these together accounted for nearly 51% of the January total.

January 2012 imports of cement and clinker of about 373,000t were nearly double the very low base in January 2011.