Indonesia: Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto has said that the government is preparing regulations to restrict new cement plant permits being issued in a bid to maintain stable cement prices. The ministry’s director general for chemicals, textile and miscellaneous industry, Achmad Sigit Dwiwahjono, has also confirmed the proposed regulation, according to the Jakarta Post. Airlangga added that his ministry has also been considering other measures to tackle cement oversupply.
The Indonesian Cement Association (ASI) has lobbied the government to take action on oversupply. Cement production capacity has nearly doubled from 59.3Mt/yr in 2012 to 92.7Mt/yr in 2016. However, demand is projected to only reach 65Mt in 2016, leaving a production oversupply of 27.7Mt.