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This table presents detailed data on the quantity and value of gray Portland cement imported into the United States from various countries and localities for the years 2022 and 2023. It includes both customs value and cost, insurance, and freight (c.i.f.) value, measured in thousand metric tons and thousand dollars. This information is critical for understanding the supply dynamics of a key construction material that supports infrastructure development, housing, and commercial projects across the country. Tracking import sources and volumes helps industry stakeholders and policymakers assess market trends, trade dependencies, and potential vulnerabilities in the domestic cement supply chain.
Analysis of the data reveals several notable trends between 2022 and 2023. Overall, total imports slightly decreased from 22,508 thousand metric tons in 2022 to 21,893 thousand metric tons in 2023, with a corresponding minor decline in c.i.f. value from approximately $2.16 billion to $2.15 billion. Turkey remained the largest supplier by a wide margin, though its imports fell from 8,091 to 6,037 thousand metric tons, and its c.i.f. value dropped from $711 million to $560 million, indicating a significant contraction. Conversely, imports from Algeria surged dramatically, tripling from 173 to 532 thousand metric tons and nearly tripling in value, suggesting a growing trade relationship. Other countries such as Colombia and Vietnam also showed increases in quantity and value, while Mexico and Greece experienced declines. These shifts highlight evolving trade patterns and the importance of monitoring international supply sources to ensure stable access to this essential construction material.
| TABLE 19 | |||||||||||||||
| U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF GRAY PORTLAND CEMENT, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | |||||||||||||||
| (Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars) | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Value | Value | ||||||||||||||
| Country or locality | Quantity | Customs2 | C.i.f.3 | Quantity | Customs2 | C.i.f.3 | |||||||||
| Algeria | 173 | 18162 | 18262 | 532 | 52871 | 53280 | |||||||||
| Canada | 3751 | 388833 | r | 399777 | r | 3863 | 430310 | 442161 | |||||||
| Colombia | 390 | 40088 | 45259 | 503 | 35126 | 53174 | |||||||||
| Egypt | 296 | 28592 | 31682 | 124 | 14846 | 15980 | |||||||||
| Greece | 2481 | 145813 | 183462 | 2092 | 154569 | 185747 | |||||||||
| Italy | 9 | 793 | 891 | 152 | 12198 | 18610 | |||||||||
| Korea, Republic of | 906 | 50221 | 77857 | 774 | 47667 | 66686 | |||||||||
| Mexico4 | 2210 | 167185 | 221159 | 1619 | 138539 | 177918 | |||||||||
| Pakistan | 50 | 2500 | 2500 | 126 | 7168 | 9819 | |||||||||
| Saudi Arabia | 44 | 1884 | 5904 | 246 | 13030 | 24957 | |||||||||
| Spain | 170 | 9608 | 12362 | 284 | 18004 | 22051 | |||||||||
| Taiwan | 467 | 27056 | 40267 | 348 | 21903 | 34231 | |||||||||
| Thailand | 355 | 19845 | 45128 | 35 | 1719 | 3434 | |||||||||
| Tunisia | 39 | 6976 | 9386 | 47 | 5972 | 8057 | |||||||||
| Turkey | 8091 | 533492 | 711146 | 6037 | 419777 | 560045 | |||||||||
| United Arab Emirates | 561 | 63460 | 63807 | 1116 | 103335 | 108512 | |||||||||
| Vietnam | 2476 | 197059 | r | 292911 | r | 3918 | 230154 | 355862 | |||||||
| Other [13 countries and (or) localities] | 38 | r | 2047 | r | 2092 | r | 76 | 8371 | 8509 | ||||||
| Total4, 5, 6 | 22508 | 1703614 | r | 2163852 | r | 21893 | 1715558 | 2149034 | |||||||
| Puerto Rico: | |||||||||||||||
| Colombia | 343 | 31508 | 38214 | 340 | 25291 | 33155 | |||||||||
| Japan | 1 | 55 | 55 | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||
| Panama | -- | -- | -- | 5 | 536 | 750 | |||||||||
| Turkey | -- | -- | -- | 8 | 553 | 936 | |||||||||
| Total5, 6 | 344 | 31563 | 38269 | 353 | 26381 | 34841 | |||||||||
| Grand total4, 5, 6 | 22852 | 1735178 | r | 2202122 | r | 22247 | 1741939 | 2183874 | |||||||
rRevised. -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through November 15, 2024. Data are unrounded but are thought to be accurate to no more than three significant digits.
2The price actually paid or payable for merchandise when sold for exportation to the United States, excluding U.S. import duties, freight, insurance, and other charges incurred in bringing the merchandise to the United States.
3Cost, insurance, and freight (c.i.f.). The value represents the customs value plus insurance, freight, and other delivery charges to the first port of entry, but excludes costs of offloading, other U.S. port handling charges, and demurrage.
4Data are underreported with respect to imports into the El Paso, TX, customs district owing to additional material coming in as “informal entries.”
5Total imports do not include gray portland cement that was misregistered by importers under the white cement tariff code; these quantities are included in table 20.
6Data may not add to totals shown because of independent rounding.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Cement statistics | Mineral commodity prices