USGS index for cement in April 2016

Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico in April 2016 were about 7.7 million t, essentially unchanged from sales in April 2015. The leading producing States for portland and blended cement in April were Texas, California, Missouri, Florida, and Alabama, in descending order. The leading cement-consuming States (Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, and Georgia, in descending order) received about 39% of the April shipments. Sales for January through April totalled 26.5 million t, up by 9.9% from the volume in the same period in 2015.

Clinker production totalled about 6.0 million t in April 2016, down slightly from the output in April 2015. The leading clinker-producing States in April were, in descending order, Texas, California, Florida, Missouri, and Alabama. Production for January through April totalled 22.4 million t, up by 3.7% from the same period in 2015. Masonry cement shipments of about 209 000 t in April 2016 were up by 3.2% from those of April 2015. The leading masonry-cement-consuming States were, in descending order, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, California, and Georgia; these received about 53% of April’s shipments.

Shipments for January through April 2016 were 783 000 t, up by 13.2% from shipments in the same period in 2015. For some time, imports have been increasing at rates generally higher than for cement sales levels overall. In part this reflects the collapse of imports during the recession (hence a low basis), but also a relatively low cost of imports resulting from a combination of low bunker fuel costs, modest ship chartering rates, increased ship availability, and a strong dollar. In some regions, imports are offsetting domestic production constraints related to difficulties in bringing long idle extra kilns back online. Also, clinker imports have increased, likely temporarily, ahead of expected disruptions to kiln output at certain plants that are undergoing upgrades. April 2016 imports of cement and clinker of about 1.5 million t were almost 77% higher than in April 2015. Imports for January through April total;ed 4.6 million t, up by about 38% from those of the same period in 2015.

Adapted from press release by Rebecca Bowden

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/01072016/usgs-index-for-cement-in-april-2016-445/