Panama: The economic slowdown and a strike by the Trade Union of Construction Workers, combined with a fall in consumption and construction permits have hit the cement sector hard. It is expected that this will mean a 13% fall in cement demand in 2018, according to José Luis González Habas, Cemex's planning director. Cemex is the country’s only integrated cement producer.
González said that the cement sector had been growing by 13-14% and that infrastructure was growing even more. However, he was worried by the situation, stating that it was intolerable that the sector could be so unstable.
Héctor Ortega, president of the Panamanian Chamber of Construction has suggested a reduction in paperwork to help free up planning procedures and ensure infrastructure growth.
