Myanmar: Cement prices have more than doubled in Mandalay, Naypyitaw and Sagaing following the earthquake in March 2025, delaying reconstruction efforts, according to The Irrawaddy newspaper. The regime reportedly promised to subsidise cement prices for reconstruction work, but this has only happened in Naypyitaw. In Sagaing city, most building supply shops were damaged by the earthquake and remain closed, leading to long queues at businesses that are still operating.

The Indian government recently donated 4500 bags of cement for reconstruction efforts, but residents say this will mostly be used in Naypyitaw. A building sector source said “The construction industry is also suffering from labour shortages. We are not doing any building work, just demolitions. We have to buy any brand of product, including domestically produced cement. Even the big companies are rationing cement sales.”

Cement prices were reportedly increasing before the earthquake due to a decline in production. Only six of the country’s nine cement plants are now operating, producing around 340,000 bags per day. In April 2025, officials inspected over 300 building suppliers and prosecuted more than 60 for overcharging.

Kenya: The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has called for urgent measures to tackle the rising presence of substandard cement in the market, amid a reported increase in building collapses, according to The Eastleigh Voice newspaper. The institution has called for audits of manufacturers, enforcement of verification and random sampling from hardware stores and distribution centres.

In a statement, IEK said bags labelled as 50kg were often lighter, some weighing as little as 45kg. Its members had recorded compressive strength reductions of up to 25% in concrete made with some cement brands on the market, even those bearing the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) mark of quality.

Morocco: Cement sales rose by 10% year-on-year to 4.5Mt from January to April 2025, according to the Finance Ministry's Department of Financial Studies and Forecasts (DEPF).

In April 2025, sales jumped by 32% year-on-year, driven by good performance in all delivery segments.

Türkiye: Cement exports rose by 1% year-on-year to US$1.4bn during the first four months of 2025, according to the Turkish Ministry of Trade. In April 2025, exports totalled US$389m, up by 16% compared to March 2024. Over the 12-month period to April 2025, cement exports reached US$4.32bn.

Cement exports to Kyrgyzstan fell by 78% year-on-year to US$123,050 in April 2025. In the first four months of 2025, cement exports to Kyrgyzstan dropped by 31% year-on-year to US$927,096.