London (Brussels Morning Newspaper) September 29, 2026 – Total shipments of Portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico reached 8.936 million tonnes in May, marking a slight increase of 0.3 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year. When excluding sales to Puerto Rico and overseas territories, domestic cement consumption within the United States remained entirely unchanged year-on-year, standing at 8.804 million tonnes.
The latest market data highlights the shifting dynamics across American construction materials sectors, balancing flat monthly domestic consumption with broader year-to-date growth figures and fluctuating clinker production volumes across key states.
Key Producing and Consuming States Across the Nation
Geographical distribution data indicates distinct concentrations of activity within the domestic cement market. The primary producing states for Portland and blended cement during the month were Texas, Missouri, California, Florida, and Michigan. Collectively, these jurisdictions accounted for 38 per cent of the total cement produced nationwide.
On the consumption side, the leading states were Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, and Illinois. These five states similarly accounted for 38 per cent of total cement consumed across the United States during May.
Product Categories and Clinker Production Metrics
Shipments of blended cement experienced a downward trajectory, falling by 1.5 per cent year-on-year to 5.714 million tonnes, down from 5.804 million tonnes recorded in May of the preceding year. Florida emerged as the leading consumer of blended cement products during this monthly monitoring period.
Conversely, domestic clinker production demonstrated growth. Excluding figures for Puerto Rico, total clinker output reached 6.672 million tonnes, representing a 3.2 per cent increase from the 6.465 million tonnes produced in May of the previous year. Missouri served as the leading producer of clinker nationwide.
Meanwhile, total imports of cement and clinker expanded to 2.607 million tonnes, reflecting a 4.1 per cent year-on-year rise compared to the 2.505 million tonnes imported in May. Specifically, imported clinker volumes surged significantly to 132,132 tonnes, up from 32,888 tonnes recorded during the corresponding month a year earlier.
Five-Month Year-to-Date Market Performance
Evaluating the broader economic window spanning the first five months of the year, total shipments of Portland and blended cement in the US and Puerto Rico rose to 39.5 million tonnes, registering a four per cent increase compared to the same timeframe in the prior year.
Excluding sales to Puerto Rico and overseas territories, domestic cement consumption for the January-to-May period climbed by 3.9 per cent year-to-date to reach 38.920 million tonnes, up from 37.448 million tonnes a year prior. Blended cement shipments across this five-month period rose by 5.6 per cent to 24.913 million tonnes, compared to 23.601 million tonnes in the preceding year.
Clinker production across the first five months witnessed a 6.2 per cent year-on-year increase, totaling 26.520 million tonnes compared to 24.971 million tonnes previously. Cumulative imports of cement and clinker for the same five-month period reached 10.016 million tonnes, a 2.2 per cent rise over the 9.805 million tonnes recorded during the corresponding timeframe in the prior year.
International Import Origins and Supply Sources
Import distribution statistics for the January-to-May period highlight several international trade partners supplying the American market. TĂĽrkiye constituted the largest share of cement imports at 33 per cent, followed by Vietnam at 24 per cent, Canada at 16 per cent, Egypt at seven per cent, and Mexico at four per cent. Additionally, lesser volumes originated from a number of other nations, including Algeria, Greece, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Thailand.
For imported clinker specifically during the five-month period, which totaled 561,379 tonnes compared to 277,443 tonnes previously, TĂĽrkiye accounted for the majority share at 58 per cent. Canada followed with 33 per cent, France represented seven per cent, and Vietnam contributed two per cent, alongside smaller quantities originating from Croatia and China.
Market Outlook and Sectoral Drivers
Market analysts observe divergent trends influencing future demand within the construction and building materials sectors. Data centre construction continues to act as a primary driver supporting cement demand across the United States.
Conversely, residential construction remains a notable drag on the market. Industry projections indicate that single-family construction will encounter ongoing challenges. While new home sales experienced temporary upward movement, broader monetary policy adjustments and borrowing costs continue to influence housing affordability and overall sector momentum.
