Cement firms supply 150 000t per month
CEMENT manufacturing firms are supplying the market with close to 150 000 tonnes of cement per month at an average price of US$9 per 50kg bag in the process stabilising the availability of the commodity.
Recently, the market was hit by an artificial shortage of the key product in the construction industry pushing the price to as high as US$20 per 50kg bag.
The development threatened to derail a vast number of high-impact infrastructure projects ongoing in the country spearheaded by the Government and the private sector.
However, the Government moved swiftly to introduce measures that allow companies and individuals and companies to import up to five tonnes of the product up to December 31, 2023 without the requirement of an import licence.
Quantities above this will require import licences from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
However, the facility does not apply to commercial imports.
Robust infrastructure development is at the heart of the Second Republic’s economic transformation agenda in line with the country’s vision to achieve an upper middle-income status by 2030.
On Tuesday, the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities Daniel Garwe who is the Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce updated Cabinet on the cement supply situation.
In his post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) Limited Zimbabwe unit continues to supply the market, producing 120 000 metric tonnes per month.
“The price of cement is pegged at US$9,34 per 50kg bag to the retailers. That Sino Cement Zimbabwe started to supply the market as at 21st November, 2023. The company is dispatching 1 000 metric tonnes per day at a price of US$9,25 per 50kg bag. Sino Zimbabwe has imported 90MT against an import licence of 1 000MT,” said Dr Muswere.
He added that Chaya Cement has also resumed operations.
Dr Muswere said 713 companies have been allowed to import cement giving a total tonnage of 20 000MT, of which 461 have collected the licences.
“Government continues to monitor the situation and the public will be kept abreast of the matter as it develops,” he said.
Imports of cement were a preserve of those with needed import permits, but the move by the Government to open imports following dishonest companies in the industry accused of creating an artificial shortage to justify a steep increase in the price of cement.-chronicle
