US and Puerto Rican cement market expands 10% in February
Total shipments of Portland and blended cement, including imports, in the USA and Puerto Rico in February 2024 advanced 10.3 per cent to 7.59Mt when compared with February 2023, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The leading consuming states were Texas, Florida, California, Georgia and Arizona with a combined share of 47.1 per cent of February deliveries. The leading producing states of Portland and blended cement were Texas, Missouri, California, Florida and Alabama.
Masonry cement shipments remained stable at 179,000t in February 2024 when compared with the year-ago period. Masonry cement was sold mainly in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennesssee and California, which accounted for a combined share of 64.1 per cent.
US clinker production, excluding Puerto Rico, saw a 4.3 per cent uptick YoY to 5.04Mt in February 2024. California, Texas, Missouri, Florida and Alabama were the largest clinker-producing states.
In addition to its domestic supply, the US and Puerto Rico imported 1.69Mt of cement and clinker, up 5.3 per cent YoY.
January-February 2024
US shipments of Portland and blended cement in the first two months of 2024 slipped slightly to 13.5Mt, said the USGS. Of the total blended volume, 6.83Mt, or 98 per cent, was Portland limestone cement (Type IL) with the largest share of shipments sent to Texas.
Masonry cement shipments declined 5.5 per cent YoY to 343,000t in the January-February 2024 period.
US clinker production in the 2M24 fell 9.3 per cent YoY to 9.85Mt.
Cement and clinker imports into the US and Puerto Rico in the 2M24 declined 6.9 per cent YoY to 3.53Mt.
