Azerbaijan: domestic cement production to be protected against imports

Azerbaijan's government has decided to change the import procedures of cement and clinker among other goods to protect domestic production from imports.   

This decision is an essential part of integrated measures, aimed at protection of domestic production, Sahil Babayev, deputy economy minister of Azerbaijan told AzTV channel.

Babayev said that increasing the customs duties on some goods imported from abroad must not influence the cost of local production and the ministry will take all necessary measures to prevent artificial overprice of domestic output.

Azerbaijan is almost self-sufficiency in the production of cement. "As of construction materials, the level amounts to 99 per cent in production of brick, 95 per cent in manufacture of cement and clinker," Babayev said.

The changes, which were taken with a view to stimulate growth in the volumes of local production, will enter into force on 1 November 2016. Moreover, the deputy minister said the government may soon revert to the issue of increasing customs duties, should increase of domestic production in other spheres be recorded.