Côte d’Ivoire to import 300,000t of cement

Due to a shortage in the supply of cement, Côte d’Ivoire will import 300,000t of cement. “The government has decided to conduct an emergency operation for the import of 300,000t of cement to be made by the cement manufacturers, "said Jean-Claude Brou, minister of industry and mines.

The volume will be imported in three phases in consultation with the country’s cement producers. The first consignment, of 90,000t, will arrive at the end of May, with a further 105,000t both in June and July.

At present, cement production is carried out by Société des Ciments d’Abidjan (SCA), Société Ciment d’Afrique (CIMAF), Société des Ciments du Sud-Ouest (SOCIM) and d Société Ivorienne de Ciments et Matériaux (SOCIMAT).

Demand for cement has jump since 2011 as the government is carrying out large construction projects such as bridges, social housing and the paving of roads. The higher building activity is expected to lead to a shortage of around 75,000t of cement in the first quarter of 2015.