Cement importers said they will continue to bring in the commodity to fill the annual shortfall in the country despite the Trade Department’s imposition of definitive safeguard duty on imports.
Philippine Cement Importers Association president Napoleon Co said Thursday the country could never do away with imports “as long as local supply is lacking.”
“Imports are not due to any price competitions. It is the inability of local plants to produce enough for the country’s cement needs,” he said.
Cement shortfall is expected to reach 6 million metric tons this year as local manufacturers could only provide as much as 30 million MT. In 2018, demand hit 34 million MT while local plants produced only around 28 million MT, prompting importers and cement manufacturers alike to import the item.
Co said the importation would continue to increase in the future if no new plant would be built.