{"id":2869559,"version":0,"headline":"US cement imports from Vietnam hit record in 1H","dateModified":"2026-08-25T23:40:56Z","datePublished":"2026-08-25T20:22:02Z","articleBody":"

US cement imports from Vietnam reached a record high in the first half of 2026, despite rising freight costs. Imports from Egypt, Pakistan and Algeria also rose, offsetting lower supply from Turkey and the Middle East.

Cement imports from Vietnam rose by 20pc on the year to 3.08mn t during January-June, according to Global Trade Tracker (GTT) data. The increase strengthened Vietnam's position as the second-largest cement supplier to the US, narrowing the gap with leading exporter Turkey. Vietnamese shipments accounted for nearly 26pc of all US cement imports in the first half, up from 21pc a year earlier.

The increase came in spite of tighter spot availability from the country since early this year, with many Vietnamese cement suppliers already sold out of spot shipments for much of 2026 by February. Freight costs have also risen for most of this year because of the effects of the war between the US, Israel and Iran, which has lifted bunker costs. This suggests that much of the increase in US imports from Vietnam was because of contractual sales concluded last year.

Similarly, imports from Egypt nearly doubled, despite the Egyptian government seeking to limit cement exports. US imports from Egypt were up by 90pc on the year to 853,200t, making it the fourth-largest supplier to the US. But some suppliers were understood to be focusing on the strong domestic market.

Imports from Algeria, the fifth-largest supplier, were up by 30pc on the year in the first half, reaching 489,600t. Pakistan also expanded its presence in the US cement market, with imports more than quadrupling to 208,400t from 51,500t in January-June 2025.

Imports from Canada, the third-largest supplier with 16pc of total market share, rose by 4pc on the year to 1.89mn t in January-June. But demand for Canadian material may decline after the US imposed a new 50pc tariff on Canadian cement as of 22 August. Trade talks between the US and Canada ended abruptly last week, and no new talks are planned. The Canadian government escalated the trade war on Tuesday by announcing it would double tariffs on imported US steel and aluminium to 50pc starting on 8 September as part of a retaliatory package targeting $28bn of imports from its southern neighbour.

By contrast, imports from the US' largest supplier Turkey were down by 6pc from first half 2025 to 3.73mn t. Turkey's market share narrowed by 2 percentage points on the year to 31pc.

Deliveries from the Mideast Gulf fell sharply after the war disrupted transport through the strait of Hormuz. Imports from the UAE fell by 50pc on the year to 91,600t, while shipments from Saudi Arabia dropped by 85pc to 46,600t.

Imports from Greece, Colombia and Mexico also declined in the first half.

Total US cement imports were down by around 1pc on the year to 11.88mn t.

By Alexander Makhlay

US cement imports mn t
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US cement imports from Vietnam reached a record high in the first half of 2026, despite rising freight costs. Imports from Egypt, Pakistan and Algeria also rose, offsetting lower supply from Turkey and the Middle East.

Cement imports from Vietnam rose by 20pc on the year to 3.08mn t during January-June, according to Global Trade Tracker (GTT) data. The increase strengthened Vietnam's position as the second-largest cement supplier to the US, narrowing the gap with leading exporter Turkey. Vietnamese shipments accounted for nearly 26pc of all US cement imports in the first half, up from 21pc a year earlier.

The increase came in spite of tighter spot availability from the country since early this year, with many Vietnamese cement suppliers already sold out of spot shipments for much of 2026 by February. Freight costs have also risen for most of this year because of the effects of the war between the US, Israel and Iran, which has lifted bunker costs. This suggests that much of the increase in US imports from Vietnam was because of contractual sales concluded last year.

Similarly, imports from Egypt nearly doubled, despite the Egyptian government seeking to limit cement exports. US imports from Egypt were up by 90pc on the year to 853,200t, making it the fourth-largest supplier to the US. But some suppliers were understood to be focusing on the strong domestic market.

Imports from Algeria, the fifth-largest supplier, were up by 30pc on the year in the first half, reaching 489,600t. Pakistan also expanded its presence in the US cement market, with imports more than quadrupling to 208,400t from 51,500t in January-June 2025.

Imports from Canada, the third-largest supplier with 16pc of total market share, rose by 4pc on the year to 1.89mn t in January-June. But demand for Canadian material may decline after the US imposed a new 50pc tariff on Canadian cement as of 22 August. Trade talks between the US and Canada ended abruptly last week, and no new talks are planned. The Canadian government escalated the trade war on Tuesday by announcing it would double tariffs on imported US steel and aluminium to 50pc starting on 8 September as part of a retaliatory package targeting $28bn of imports from its southern neighbour.

By contrast, imports from the US' largest supplier Turkey were down by 6pc from first half 2025 to 3.73mn t. Turkey's market share narrowed by 2 percentage points on the year to 31pc.

Deliveries from the Mideast Gulf fell sharply after the war disrupted transport through the strait of Hormuz. Imports from the UAE fell by 50pc on the year to 91,600t, while shipments from Saudi Arabia dropped by 85pc to 46,600t.

Imports from Greece, Colombia and Mexico also declined in the first half.

Total US cement imports were down by around 1pc on the year to 11.88mn t.

By Alexander Makhlay

US cement imports mn t
","lead":"US cement imports from Vietnam reached a record high in the first half of 2026, despite rising freight costs. Imports from Egypt, Pakistan and Algeria also rose, offsetting lower supply from Turkey and the Middle East.","cmsId":"25131850","source":"Censhare"}