Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va.
Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico were 6.0 million mt in March 2012, according to the USGS. This was 11 percent higher compared with shipments for March 2011. Shipments for the year through March were 15.2 million mt, up about 20 percent for the same period in 2011.
Clinker production totaled 5.3 million mt in March 2012, about 7 percent higher than the output in March 2011. Production for the year through March was 13.7 million mt, up almost 16 percent. Masonry cement shipments of about 159,000 mt for March 2012 were 3 percent lower compared with shipments in March 2011. Shipments for the year through March were 424,000 mt, up 10 percent.
March 2012 imports of cement and clinker of about 429,000 mt were about 6 percent higher than March 2011. Imports for the year through February were 1.09 million mt, up almost 14 percent.
