Portland and blended cement shipments in the US and Puerto Rico over the first three months of 2015 are expected to have amounted to 16.44Mt, according to preliminary data from the USGS published last week. Of the 1Q15 total, imports accounted for 1.54Mt.

During March 2015, shipments were 6.287Mt, with imports representing 585,663t of supply.

Clinker production in the first quarter of this year totalled 15.46Mt. In March alone, clinker output reached 5.49Mt, the early indicators show.

The preliminary USGS data are subject to change. The full monthly report is expected to be published in approximately two weeks.