Displaying items by tag: Import
Ghana Cement Manufacturing Association approves of import tax rise
03 September 2015Ghana: The Ghana Cement Manufacturing Association (GCMA) has approved of a government customs decision to increase the cost and freight value of imported bagged cement into the country. The valuation of Freight on Board (FOB) for the import of bagged cement has been increased to US$60/t from US$25/t, according to GCMA Chairman and Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of Ghacem, George Dawson-Ahmoah.
"We are appealing to international cement manufacturing companies who know the international cement market trade to abide by fair trade practices to safeguard the industry, because it has consequences like workers losing their jobs, lower taxes to the government and folding-up of local cement companies — which would be disastrous for the nation," said Dawson-Ahmoah to local media.
Dawson-Ahmoah said that the GCMA was not expecting any value less than US$80/t to cover cost and freight of imported cement from China to Ghana. He added that the country's local cement industry has a 2Mt/yr surplus of cement production capacity following expansion projects. Since lobbying the government on this issue the GCMA has been monitoring movement of imported bagged cement and will continue to insist on fair trade practices.
Pakistan producers slam Iranian imports
27 August 2015Pakistan/Iran: The Pakistani cement industry has once again spoken out against imported cement from Iran and alleged massive under-invoicing across the border. Industry sources said that the Iranian cement, which was earlier being smuggled, is now entering Pakistan at very low rates due to under-invoicing. They say that importing cement into Pakistan, itself a cement exporter is 'incomprehensible.'
Taha Khan Javed, Elixir Securities Pakistan's head of research, said that the government needs to realise that this lax attitude towards under-invoicing and the 'rampant' import of Iranian cement is hurting both the government and the local cement industry. Pakistan already has surplus capacity and its exports are falling due to a slowdown in exports to Afghanistan and other regions. In the case of Afghanistan this is also, in part, due to Iranian imports.
Tanzania’s cement producers call for level playing field
07 August 2015Tanzania: Local cement makers have said that they are now facing collapse due to the continued influx of cheap imported products in an already saturated market.
The Chairman of the Tanzania Chapter of East African Cement Producers Association (EACPA), Reinhardt Swart, said that their situation was being made worse because they were competing with cheap imports at a time when their margins are squeezed by overcapacity in the market. "I am not asking for protection. I'm not asking the government to ban imports. I am asking for the government to create a level playing field," said Swart. He commented they were operating in a difficult environment with risks of job losses to adjust to the situation.
Swart welcomed the entry of new players in the cement market, saying they would stimulate development in the industry but cautioned that their preferential treatment such as tax breaks was not helpful to the country as it contribute to create unleveled playing field against the local industries. "If you allow new players for integrated cement plants and give tax breaks and you allow imports in an over capacity market, that is not fair. There is a risk that cement producers will suffer job losses," said Swart.
Swart said that Tanzania's cement producers support the government campaign to help local industries grow by using local coal, gypsum and other materials, but that the government was not reciprocating the gesture. "If you force us to use local coal, that increase in cost must be calculated in monetary terms and charged on imports as well. The same applies to royalties. If you force us to grow another industry at our cost, then you must either give us subsidies or charge the exact increased amount as additional duties on imports," said Swart.
Costa Rica to see further Chinese imports
17 July 2015Costa Rica: Amid the controversy generated by changes in the rules for marketing cement in Costa Rica, Sinocem has announced that the first Chinese import and sale of cement in the country generated 'good results.' It stated that it will import more. The company says that the first batch was sold in December 2014 at a price 20% lower than the competition.
Armenia: As reported by ARMINFO News (Armenia), Armenia cut its cement exports 2.5-fold to 73,000t in 2014, down from 185,200t in 2013. It also increased its imports 2.2-fold, according to the Customs Service of Armenia.
The customs cost of the exported cement fell from US$11.8m in 2013 to US$4.6m in 2014, a factor of 2.6. In 2013, cement exports grew by 36% year-on-year and imports doubled. The Ministry of Economy said that cement exports fell dramatically in 2014 as a new cement plant started up in Rustavi, Georgia. There are now three HeidelbergCement cement plants in Georgia. The country was the key consumer of Armenian cement exports.
In 2014, Armenia imported 7500t of cement for US$1.2m compared to 3400t for US$615,200 in 2013. Some 98% of the country's cement imports come from Iran.
According to the Statistical Service of Armenia, cement production fell by 0.9% in 2014 and by 1.5% in 2013, compared to 3.6% growth in 2012. In 2014, the construction sector shrank by 4.3% to US$913m. In the first quarter of 2015, the construction sector grew by a marginal 0.4%.
Costa Rica: According to Central America Data, complaints have been made about the differences in the use by dates on cement bags misleading consumers. The cement bags in question were imported from China under the brand name Sinocem.
A label at the top of the sacks in question states that the packing date was 5 January 2015 and recommends its use by 5 July 2015. Another label on the same sack indicates that the product must be used within 45 calendar days following the date of packing, which would mean that the product has already expired.
The Consumers Association of Costa Rica has filed a complaint with the National Consumer Commission at the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce over the imported Sinocem cement due to problems in product labelling that affect consumers.
"There is a deep concern that there is no clarity over use by dates for cement, which could even cause risk, because we do not know if the adhesives work well or even the exact date of the packing. With this cement being sold like this, consumers should be careful," said Gilberto Campos, vice president of the Consumer Association of Costa Rica.
Nghi Son Cement allowed to continue fly ash imports
02 July 2015Vietnam: According to Vietnam News Brief Service, deputy prime minister Hoang Trung Hai has agreed to allow Nghi Son Cement Corporation to continue the pilot import of fly ash as a raw material for its cement production.
The deputy prime minister had earlier agreed to allow Nghi Son Cement Corporation to import no more than 200,000t/yr of fly ash in 2015 - 2016. He also requested the company to develop a plan to use domestic fly ash for cement production from 2017.
Vietnam has a huge supply of fly ash. It is estimated that the thermal power plants in Vietnam produce 4.5Mt/yr of fly ash. The figure is expected to hit 35Mt/yr in 2030. According to Vietnam News Brief Service, agencies, companies and localities have not shown their willingness to share interests with others, leading to fly ash sourcing difficulties for many companies.
New Philippines terminal to open in early 2016
23 June 2015Philippines: According to IHS Maritime 360, the UK's Nectar Group and Seasia Nectar Port Services Inc (SNPSI), which are in a joint venture project to build a US$185.5m dry bulk terminal in Bataan, expect the new facility to launch in early 2016.
"The current schedule is for phase one to be operational from the first quarter of 2016," said a Nectar Group official. "There are planned timeframes for the other two phases, but they are dependent on how well the first phase operates."
The new dry bulk terminal is designed to handle shipments of coal, clinker, silica sand, cement raw materials, steel, fertiliser and other dry bulk cargo. Construction of the terminal will be completed in three phases covering 114,000m2. The first phase covers the development of the port facility with a 247m quay and a 14m draft. Once completed, the terminal will have 3Mt/yr of cargo capacity.
In addition to quayside and open storage areas, SNPSI will also build facilities for warehousing, stevedoring, lightering and other services.
Ghana: According to local media Modern Ghana, George Dawson-Ahmoah, chairman of the Ghana Cement Manufacturers Association (GCMA), has called for the imposition of anti-dumping duties on imported cement to rid the industry of unfair trade practices by importers and protect investments by local cement manufacturers and the employment of locals.
Dawson-Ahmoah urged the government to take its cue from South Africa, which recently imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on cement originating from Pakistan. South Africa imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on cement from Pakistan from 15 May 2015 following investigations initiated by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) on 22 August 2014 after a number of local cement producing companies submitted an application on behalf of the industry.
Dumping occurs when companies export their goods to foreign markets at prices lower than what they charge for the same product in their home market. When dumping causes material injury to an industry in the market to which the products are exported, it is considered unfair trade.
Dawson-Ahmoah said that since countries are entitled to act in terms of World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules and procedures with an objective to level the playing field between domestic producers and foreign competitors, Ghana's government should act appropriately to defend the local market from undue price under cuttings, which have the potential to 'destabilise' the industry.
Ghana: The Ghana Cement Manufacturers Association (GCMA), which comprises Ghacem Ltd, Diamond Cement Company Ltd and Savannah Diamond Company Ltd, has appealed to the Ministry of Finance to urgently commence investigation into what it described as the tax liabilities of certain importers of bagged cement into the country.
In a letter dated 26 May 2015 and addressed to the director of taxes at the Finance Ministry, the GCMA said that it had gathered that two importers, SOL Ghana Ltd and Fujiman Sentuo, had allegedly declared cost, insurance, freight (CIF) values of about US$27/t and US$30/t respectively. The letter, jointly signed by George Dawson-Ahmoah, chairman and N Venketash, vice chairman / secretary, stated, 'The alleged values to us as seasoned manufacturers in the cement industry are unbelievable and call for the attention of the tax authorities. Such values, when confirmed, are under-valued leading to huge financial loss to the nation."