PPC lobbies for cement import tariffs
The cement producer says the tariffs will level the playing field as imports jumped 80% between January and November 2018
Listed cement producer PPC is lobbying government body International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) for the imposition of tariffs to curb the influx of cement imports. For PPC, the cement imports, which jumped 80% between January and November 2018, worsened the subdued consumer environment and gloomy construction sector. The increase comes on the back of a 71% increase in imported cement in the six months to end-September 2018. The company said the majority of the cement imports were from Vietnam, China and Pakistan.
“PPC is lobbying for appropriate tariffs for imports for all countries, which will level the playing field. Currently, tariffs are only levied on cement imports from Pakistan. Furthermore, considering the current muted economic environment, a total ban would be appropriate,” PPC said in a statement. The company pointed to over-capacity in the local market, saying current capacity was about 18-million tonnes a year, compared to a demand of approximately 14-...
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