Displaying items by tag: Import

Mozambique: Alfredo Sitoe, the general director of the National Norms and Quality Institute (INNOQ), has said that all cement imports must be tested for quality. The new legislation was set up in July 2016 but took effect in January 2017, according to the Mozambique News Agency. Cement importers are required to provide origin details to the INNOQ that will then check certification with the relevant organisation in the exporting country.

Philippines: Two cement importers have asked the Regional Trial Court of Makati to issue a temporary restraining order against a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) order restricting imports of cement. Fortem Cement and Cohaco Merchandising and Development allege that the Administrative Order 17-02 prevents imports of cement into the country, with the exception of importers operating integrated cement plants, according to the Manilla Bulletin newspaper. The importers say that the legislation will destroy their business. They also allege that the new rules violate anti-competition rules.

The DTI has defended its legislation, although it recognises the freedom of the importers to challenge it through the legal process. The government department says it issued the revised order to help safeguard the safety of consumers by requiring the strict conduct of standards compliance tests on cement imports. The order requires the application of the Philippine Standards licenses on foreign producers of cement imports, Import Commodity Clearance on cement imports and a minimum capitalisation level for importers to prevent smaller importers.

India: Y V Ramana Rao, president of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) Vijayawada chapter has said that the building associations have solicited quotes for cement from Chinese producers because local prices are too high. The government has asked local cement producers to cap their prices, according to the Economic Times. However the builders associations have rejected some of the fixed prices as being too high.

Philippines: Albert Manifold, the chief executive officer of CRH, has defended his company’s investment of up to Euro350m in the Philippines despite reporting a 12% drop in sales in the first quarter of 2017. Under questioning from analysts in a conference call admitted that about a quarter of cement demand in the country is currently being served by imports from Southeast Asia that is also reducing local prices, according to the Irish Times. However, he insisted that local producers, including CRH, will have an advantage as they increase production capacity due to constant production and ‘guaranteed’ regulation and certification. Manifold also conceded that his company’s performance in the Philippines illustrates the ‘volatility of emerging markets.’

Ivory Coast: The government has decided to import 150,000t of cement from April to July 2017 to cope with a local shortage. Cement will be imported in a strict agenda including 61,000t in May 2017, 64,000t in June 2017 and 25,000t in July 2017, according to the La Afrique Tribune newspaper. The government is also hoping that on-going cement plant projects will meet local demand when they are commissioned. The country previously imported cement to meet local shortages in 2015 when 300,000t was imported in three phases.

India: A Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI), Telangana Real Estate Developers’ Association (TREDA), Builders Association of India (BAI), Telangana Builders Federation (TBF), Telangana Developers Association (TDA) and other small and big member groups has reacted angrily against a 60% increase in the price of cement in Telangana. The group has described the rise as ‘unjustified’ and has asked cement producers to rescind the increase, according to the Hindu newspaper. S Ram Reddy, president of CREDAI and chairman of the JAC said that fuel and power costs had not increased for cement producers. He added that the JAC had failed to obtain a response from the Cement Manufacturers Association on the issue. The developers are considering options including importing cement into the state from the international market. They are also planning to meet Prime Minister Modi with a request to constitute a body to regulate the cement industry.

Argentina: Holcim Argentina plans to import about 0.25Mt of clinker with a value of US$16.3m from May 2017 to April 2018. The product will arrive in six separate vessels carrying 41,800t each, according to the El Cronista newspaper. The cement producer says that the imports are intended to cover local demand that it can’t meet with its own production base. The company’s director Carlos Moreno added that the price of imported clinker is ‘competitive.’ The subsidiary of LafargeHolcim has a cement production of 4.8Mt/yr from plants in Campana in Buenos Aires, Malagueño in Córdoba, Puesto Viejo in Jujuy and Las Heras in Mendoza.

Jamaica: The government has granted Caribbean Cement permission to import cement from Trinidad & Tobago in order to resolve local supply issues. The cement producer will procure cement from its subsidiary Trinidad Cement, according to the Jamaica Observer newspaper. Caribbean Cement has reported technical issues with its packing plant which have led to it being unable to support the local retail market. It has also suspended all exports.

Bahrain: Cement companies in Bahrain have stopped importing cement from Saudi Arabia following a change in export laws that has increased the price. United Cement Company chief executive Faisal Shehab said that the four cement companies in Bahrain used to import a total of 25,000t/week, according to the Gulf Daily News. In March 2017 the law changed in Saudi Arabia allowing producers to export cement. However, the law has specified that companies should repay government subsidies and this has increased the price of exports to Bahrain by nearly 50%. The imported cement represents about half of Bahrain requirements. Previously, Bahrain imported cement from Saudi Arabia under a special arrangement set up in 2009. Bahrain producers are now seeking alternative imports from the UAE.

Gabon: The workers union at CimGabon have held a press conference calling for state intervention in the local cement sector. They blamed ‘uncontrolled’ imports of cement for threatening the closure of the producer’s grinding plant at Owendo, according to the Binto Media Group. The calls for state action follow the suspension of investment by Ciments de l'Afrique (CIMAF) on an upgrade project at the plant. In 2014 the company shut down its clinker plant at Estuaire and its cement grinding plant at Franceville. Germany’s HeidelbergCement also has a stake in the producer.