Argentina fixes cement prices

The Argentinian government signed an agreement on January 11, 2006 with the Association of Portland cement makers in the country to retain cement prices unchanged over the next 90 days. The association said it would recommend to all its members not to change cement prices over that period. The agreement is similar to that signed by the Government with other sectors of the Argentine economy in its efforts to control inflation.

The major cement makers in Argentina, namely Loma Negra, Cementos Minetti, PCR and Cementos Avellaneda, agreed to keep the prices unchanged. The association of Portland cement makers also promised to keep implementing technology advancements in the sector so as to be ready to meet rising building materials demand on booming infrastructure investments. 
 
 Argentina 2005 inflation totalled 12.3 per cent, slightly above expectations, while construction costs reportedly expanded 17.8 per cent year-on-year in 2005.