The Department of Trade and Industry has issued an order imposing definitive general safeguard measures on imports of ordinary Portland cement and blended cement, a move welcomed by the local industry following a surge in foreign competition.
The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) said Department Administrative Order 25-15 aligns with findings from the Tariff Commission.
The commission determined that imported cement directly competes with locally produced varieties and that a surge in imports caused serious injury to the domestic industry.
Under the new order, a definitive safeguard duty will be imposed for three years at P14 per bag, or P349 per metric ton. The measures apply specifically to ordinary Portland cement Type 1 and blended cement.
Local manufacturers suffered substantial operational losses during the investigation period, according to the commission. Market share, sales, production, and capacity utilization all fell to their lowest levels as imports increased.
CeMAP executive-director Renato Baja said the duty would help raise capacity utilization, which stood at 53 percent in 2024. He said the measure is expected to sustain jobs, encourage investments and generate positive multiplier effects across the economy.
While implementation remains a key challenge, Baja said the association trusts the DTI and the Bureau of Customs to enforce the measure effectively.
He said CeMAP would monitor implementation and report any suspected non-compliance.
CeMAP is composed of Republic Cement CRH, Holcim Philippines, Taiheiyo Cement, Goodfound Cement Corp. and Apo Cement and Solid Cement under CONCREAT Holdings Inc.
The group has actively engaged the government to seek protection from what it characterizes as unfair competition from imports.
