Distributors concerned over INC cement shortage, Paraguay

Distributors concerned over INC cement shortage, Paraguay
23 November 2006


Cement distributors in Paraguay are concerned at the low production of Portland cement in the country by the state-owned company INC because this has caused an acute shortage in the market and has affected consumer prices, local press reported.

Some of the cement distributors have been forced to wait up to a week for supplies from INC due to a serious shortage of gypsum, one of the raw materials needed to make the building material.

Because of the lack of cement being produced, the sales that have actually been made to distributors have been rationed, the companies said.

"The bad news is that only next week is the situation going to return to normal, INC explained to us," a representative of the company Hijos de Amado Coronel Ortiz was quoted as saying by newspaper La Nación.

A shipment of gypsum has now been received by INC and the situation will begin returning to normal this week, according to INC president Sergio Espínola.

INC has had supply problems in the past and earlier this year was the subject of criticism in congress over its inability to meet demand, which was causing prices to rise and holding up works in the construction industry.
Published under Cement News