US Portland and blended cement shipments up 5% in October

Total Portland and blended cement shipments in the USA and Puerto Rico in October increased 4.9 per cent YoY in October 2017, according to data from the US Geological Survey (USGS). Texas, California, Florida, Ohio and New York were the five largest consuming states (in descending order) and accounted for around 37 per cent of national demand.

To meet the total demand of 9.424Mt, some 8.284Mt was delivered from domestic plants while the balance of 1.14Mt was imported.

The country’s leading producing states were Texas, Missouri, California and Michigan (in descending order), which accounted for 41 per cent of the month’s total sales with a total Portland cement output of 9.236Mt and a blended cement production of 188,311t. In addition to domestic Portland cement sales, US producers delivered 17,488t to Puerto Rico and exported 56,066t. For blended cement, deliveries to Puerto Rico and export markets stood at 14,256t and 3131t, respectively. 

Masonry cement shipments rose 2.8 per cent YoY in October to 217,000t. Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina and Georgia accounted for 55 per cent of domestic masonry cement demand. Domestic production of 215,386t was supplemented by 1633t of imports while imports stood at 5t.

Clinker output rose slightly to 6.9Mt when compared with October 2016 with California, Texas, Missouri, Florida and Pennsylvania as leading clinker-producing states.

January-October 2017
In terms of the first 10 months of 2017, Portland and blended cement deliveries edged up by 2.1 per cent YoY. Of a total domestic consumption some 71.493Mt were delivered from domestic plants while 9.556Mt was imported.

Portland cement output for 10M17 reached 79,226Mt, including 238,056t shipped to Puerto Rico and 523,490t to export markets.

Masonry cement shipments were modestly higher than in 10M16 at 2.05Mt. This includes 16,837t of imports. Exports stood at 384t.

Clinker output remained stable at 63.63Mt in 10M17.