US market continues to improve in 2017

Cement sales in the US increased modestly in 2017 with a value of around US$12.4bn and an apparent consumption of 96.8Mt, up from 94.2Mt in 2016, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Production of Portland cement in the US edged up to 85.9Mt in 2017 from 84.5Mt the previous year, but output of masonry cement remained level. Cement was produced at 98 cement works in 34 states plus two plants in Puerto Rico.

To meet domestic market requirements, the US imported around 12Mt of cement (2016:11.742Mt) while clinker imports declined from 1.496Mt to 1.2Mt in 2017. Canada imports around 41 per cent of product, followed by Greece (14 per cent), South Korea (13 per cent) and China (12 per cent).

Exports of cement and clinker slipped from 1.283Mt to 1.1Mt.