The Cement Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) welcomed the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) decision to impose a safeguard duty of P349 per metric ton on imported cement, or roughly P14 per bag.
CeMAP acknowledged the tariff as a “fair measure consistent with trade rules and supportive of the competitiveness of the local cement industry,” which had been seeking a higher duty to counter the effects of low-priced and subsidized imports.
The group said it “fully respects” the DTI’s decision, which followed the Tariff Commission’s recommendation and replaced a P400 provisional duty previously proposed by the department.
“While we had hoped for a higher tariff, we view this as a balanced and reasonable move,” the association said, adding that the safeguard measure would allow local manufacturers to strengthen their operations and improve utilization rates.
CeMAP previously sought a P600 per metric ton safeguard duty for three years, arguing that the higher rate would more accurately reflect the “real injury” suffered by local producers.
The group expressed optimism that the local industry’s capacity utilization, which stood at only 53 percent last year, would improve as a result of the new safeguard duty.
This will enable the sector to better support the country’s growing infrastructure demand, it said. The local industry has an installed annual capacity of 51 million metric tons, but output was limited to 28 million metric tons in 2024 due to reduced demand and stiff import competition.
CeMAP said retail prices have remained stable despite the provisional duties implemented in March, citing healthy competition among both multinational and Filipino cement manufacturers.
The group also cited a temporary slowdown in public works, which normally accounts for around 40 percent of cement demand, due to reviews and project adjustments by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Despite the slowdown, CeMAP said the local industry remains capable of fully meeting domestic demand, with the challenge lying in the continued influx of cheap, subsidized imports.
