Milder weather boosts US February shipments

Total shipments of Portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico for February 2012 were 4.7Mt, data from the US Geological Survey shows. This was almost 29% higher than shipments in February 2011. Shipments for the year through February were 9.3 Mt, up by about 26%.

Although continuing a trend of monthly increases that started in May 2011, the high percentage increase in January and February 2012 in part reflected mild winter weather conditions.

The leading producing States in February were Texas, California, Missouri, Florida, and Alabama, in descending order.

The leading consuming States (Texas, California, Florida, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania, in descending order) received about 43% of the February total shipments.

Clinker production totaled 4.2 Mt in February, nearly 21% higher than output in February 2011. Production for the year through February was 8.4 Mt, up by 21.5%. The leading clinker-producing States in February were Texas, California, Missouri, Florida, and South Carolina, in descending order, and these together accounted for 52% of the February total.