Displaying items by tag: Shortage

Paraguay: Union representatives at Industria Nacional del Cemento (INC) have warned of shortages in mid-February 2019. They have cited a shortage of bags at its Villeta plant and problems with the kiln at the Vallemi plant, according to the ABC Color newspaper. The president of INC has denied the claims. Local cement sales are expected to rise by 7.7% year-on-year to 1.4Mt in 2019 from 1.3Mt in 2018.

Philippines: A shortage of cement is causing delays to infrastructure projects in parts of Pangasinan province. Department of Public Works and Highways Pangasinan 3 District Engineer Gerardo de Guzman said that the region's cement manufacturer Northern Cement was not producing enough cement to support the region, according to the Manila Bulletin newspaper. Cement is being rationed as a result.

Paraguay: The Paraguayan Chamber of Construction says that there is a shortage of cement. The builder’s forum has attributed this to a downturn in the economy following the institution of the new government in the summer of 2018, according to the Hoy newspaper.

Zimbabwe: Edith Matekaire, the commercial director of Lafarge Zimbabwe, has blamed a backlog of foreign currency exchange as the cause of a shortage of cement. The US$2m backlog has caused plant maintenance shutdowns to take longer than they normally would, according to the Herald newspaper. Due to the lack of adequate funding, the shutdowns have been forced to take place during periods of peak production, causing effects in the market.

Despite this, Matekaire said that the local cement sector has more than enough production capacity to meet customers’ needs. Demand is 1.3Mt/yr and cement production is 2.4Mt/yr. Demand is only expected to exceed production from 2020 onwards.

Zimbabwe: Lafarge Zimbabwe says that it is able to supply the market with cement following a shortage. In a statement the subsidiary of LafargeHolcim said that the recent surge in demand was ‘temporary’ and that, overall, the situation was a ‘positive signal of economic growth,’ according to the Chronicle newspaper. It said that the situation might be attributable to a rise in mortgage finance as well as improved disposable income following a successful tobacco and maize farming season on the back of the Command Agriculture Programme.

Cement prices have reportedly risen by over 50% due to the shortage. Producers have blamed her situation on technical problems following maintenance works at their plants. They have also ruled out any further increases in prices. Despite the cement shortage they have warned against trading cement on the black market.

Paraguay: Industria Nacional del Cemento’s (INC) Vallemi cement plant has been paralysed by a coke shortage. All operations at the unit’s clinker kiln have been suspended, according to the Ultima Hora newspaper. The producer is still making cement deliveries but its clinker stocks have fallen to below 30,000t. The company reportedly only has fuel oil left for one day and sufficient coke for one day of full operation. It is awaiting the arrival of a 6000t consignment of coke.

Indonesia: Yostinus Hulu, the chairman of the Association of North Nias Community (Himni) has urged the city administration of Gunungsitoli, Nias in North Sumatra to set up a government-backed company to cope with cement shortages. He said that cement supplies had been disrupted by infrastructure projects in the region, according to the Antara news agency. The city has faced frequent cement shortages.