The Gambia: Sherif Faye, the operations manager of Jah Oil, says that the company has enough cement to supply The Gambia. He made the comment at a press event held in response to public outcry over a local cement shortage, according to the Point newspaper. The company has experienced delays to its inbound shipments due to poor weather in Europe. However, he confirmed that two ships carrying cement had recently arrived in the country.

The subsidiary of Jah Group sells its Tiger Cement 42.5 grade brand product in 50kg bags. The cement is imported from Spain and Algeria and bagged locally. Jah Oil has a bagging capacity of 108,000 bags/day.

South Africa: The Concrete Institute says that the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) should impose a temporary ban on cement imports to protect the local industry. The institute is preparing an application to the commission, according to the Business Daily newspaper. Bryan Perrie, its managing director, said that imports from Pakistan dropped in 2016 after tariffs were introduced. However, this has been replaced by imports from China and Vietnam. He added that prices have dropped ‘drastically,’ especially in coastal areas, that this is starting to effect jobs and cement producers are delaying expansion plans. The Concrete Institute represents PPC, AfriSam, Lafarge Africa, Sephaku and Natal Portland Cement.

Ghana: Ghacem has linked its Kumasi terminal to the Data One server, a logistics product, to centralise sales and ordering processing. It follows requests by distributors following a survey, according to the Ghanaian Times newspaper. Sales and orders at the terminal will now use a similar system to that at the company’s plants at Tema and Takoradi. Plans are now being prepared to link the company’s other terminals – at Tamale, Buipe, Techiman and Dwenase – to the system.

UAE: Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Cement has purchased the Newtech cement plant and the Al Banna quarry from Mohammed Ali Omar Saleh Al Buraiki for around US$123m. RAK Cement operates an integrated plant at Ras Al Khaimah.