USA January shipments rise 5.2% YoY

Cement shipments in the USA and Puerto Rico for January were up by 5.2 per cent than the same month of last year, the latest preliminary data from the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows.

January 2013’s increase occurred despite being slightly colder and significantly wetter than January 2012, highlighted analysts at Jefferies International. Morevover, shipments have now increased in 30 of the last 35 months, it pointed out.

Total shipments for Portland and blended cement in January 2013 reached 4,811,968t, of which Portland cement accounted for 4,734,800t, the USGS data showed.

In 2012, total shipments of Portland and blended cements in the US and Puerto Rico in 2012 reached 79Mta, up by about nine per cent YoY. Imports during the month were 374,490t. Clinker production, meanwhile was 4,312,685t.