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China-Africa Trade Information Service
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According to the report, Zimbabwe's cement demend will exceed the supply by 2020.
The industry is dominated by three major players, namely PPC Zimbabwe, Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe and Sino-Zimbabwe Cement.
Together, they have a combined installed capacity of 2,4 million metric tonnes of cement, 54% more than current demand estimated at 1,3 million tonnes.
Addressing delegates at the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries annual congress held in Bulawayo last week, Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe commercial director Edith Matekaire called for new investments in production capacity to forestall shortages, given the time taken to develop new plants.
In a statement recently, the Cement and Concrete Institute of Zimbabwe said national cement demand had surged since the second half of last year, driven by a reported bubble in mortgage and construction activity.
Matekaire said the current shortage of cement in Zimbabwe was a result of delays in receiving foreign currency from the central bank for the importation of spares.
Matekaire said plant maintenance costs in the industry were one of the biggest cost drivers.