Cement shortage fears rise

A booming construction industry is starting to strain Gulf contractors who are running short of  cement supplies, according to Construction Week magazine.

It comes as billions of dollars are being invested into the construction of new cement plants throughout the GCC. But that investment will not help to alleviate expected shortages in the coming months.

In Oman, the price of cement has jumped by 25 per cent since January. Saudi Arabia has already been hit by massive cement price increases; Qatar is also moving to relax cement import restrictions, and in the UAE, there are fears that demand will outstrip supply.