Total shipments of Portland and blended cement in the USA and Puerto Rico slipped to to 7.42Mt in March 2018 when compared to March 2017, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). In March 2017 total shipments reached 7.49Mt. The largest state markets were Texas, California, Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania, in descending order, which accounted of around 46 per cent of domestic demand.

Leading producing states were Texas, California, Missouri, Florida and Alabama, in descending order.

Masonry cement shipments fell nine per cent YoY to 0.207Mt in March 2018, including 1320t of imports. Leading consuming states were Florida, Texas, California, Georgia and North Carolina, which accounted for some 59 per cent of the market.

Clinker output totalled 5.9Mt in March 2018, representing a 4.4 per cent decline when compared with March 2017. Key producing states, in descending order, were Texas, Missouri, California, Florida and Alabama.

Imports of cement and clinker edged down slightly to 0.9Mt.