Portland and blended cement shipments in the US and Puerto Rico reached 7.8Mt in May, according to preliminary results from the US Geological Survey (USGS). Of the total domestic shipments accounted for 6.96Mt and imports 815,555t.

JP Morgan notes that the trend remains weak at -4 per cent YoY particularly impacted by weather-impacted softness in Texas (volume decline of -33 per cent in North Texas). Among other large markets, California was soft too (down mid-single digit) while Florida continued to post good growth (up seven per cent), the research house writes.

For the five months through May 2015, shipments totalled 31.87Mt, comprising 28.73Mt of domestic shipments and 3.14Mt of imports.

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