The dangers of imported cement

Unless our government does something fast, then we might as well say goodbye to our local cement industry.

- MARY ANN LL. REYES

According to a recent report from ReportLinker, imports of cement into the Philippines are forecasted to grow steadily over the next five years or from 2024 to 2028.

It noted that the value of cement imports is expected to be $734.74 million in 2024, rising to $871.6 million by 2028. In 2023, cement import value stood at $710 million.

The report explained that the year-on-year growth rates show an average variation of around 4.4 percent annually, indicating robust expansion in cement imports.

Meanwhile, another report from Global Cement quoting figures from the local Tariff Commission included a graph showing the speed at which the market share of cement sold by local producers fell compared to importers from 2013 to 2018. Seven of the top 10 cement exporters into the country were Vietnamese companies followed by two from China and one from Thailand.

The report concluded that the import surge from 2015 to 2018 had depressed prices and decreased the profitability of local producers and this fitted the definition of "serious injury" as one reason to impose a safeguard duty on imports.

The hardship being felt by the Philippine cement industry did not end in 2018.

Just recently, the Department of Trade and Industry initiated a preliminary investigation to determine whether increased imports of cement are causing or threatening to cause serious injury to the domestic cement industry covering the period 2019 to June 2024.