Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico were about 7.3 million mt in October 2011, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This was 4.0% higher compared with shipments for October 2010. Total shipments for the year through October were approximately 61.1 million mt, slightly higher compared to the same period in 2010.
Clinker production totaled 5.7 million mt in October 2011, slightly lower than the output in October 2010. Production for the year through October was 51.3 million mt, slightly lower than that for the same period in 2010. Masonry cement shipments of about 162,000 mt for October 2011 were about 3.0% lower compared with shipments in October 2010—marking the first such increase in this market in 2011. Shipments for the year through October were 1.56 million mt, down 6.0% from those through October 2010.
October 2011 imports of cement and clinker of about 700,000 mt were about 5.0% higher than those in October 2010. Imports for the year so far totaled 5.44 million mt, down about 6.0% from those through October 2010.
