Tanzania’s government expects cement availability to improve following the completion of maintenance at major production plants that had contributed to shortages and higher prices.
Ministry of Industry and Trade Permanent Secretary Wazir Salum said temporary reductions in cement and clinker production had affected the wider supply chain, including producers dependent on clinker supplied by other plants. Production has now resumed.
The shortages have been compounded by strong demand from construction and infrastructure projects, while higher raw material, operating, transport and other costs have contributed to rising cement prices.
Mr Salum stressed that Tanzania has sufficient installed cement capacity to meet domestic demand and that the shortages were not the result of inadequate production capacity.
The government is monitoring cement and clinker production, distribution and prices and said it would investigate potential market distortions, including hoarding and unjustified price increases.
