Cement prices set to drop by up to 150FCFA
Synthia Lateu
The Minister of Commerce, Mr. Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, has announced that cement prices will decrease by up to 150 FCFA starting December 9, 2024.
In a communiqué issued on December 6, he stated that the decision was reached after extensive consultations with the two companies involved, CIMENCAM and CIMFIG.
For CIMENCAM, the price of 50 kg bags of cement will be 4,300 FCFA in Douala , while in Yaoundé, it will be 4,600 FCFA for the 32.5R Multix type cement, representing a drop of 150 FCFA from current prices. The 42.5R Robust cement type will now cost 4,900 FCFA per 50 kg bag in Douala and 5,200 FCFA in Yaoundé, reflecting a reduction of 100 FCFA per bag.
CIMFIG, based in Fuguil, has also agreed to a reduction of 100 FCFA per 50 kg bag. The 32.5R Multix cement from Garoua will now cost 5,200 FCFA per 50 kg, while the 42.5R Robust cement from Garoua will be priced at 6,200 FCFA per 50 kg bag.
Minister Mbarga emphasized that prices in locations other than Douala, Yaoundé, and Garoua will be adjusted based on distance and transportation costs. He added that this new price reduction comes within a year marked by rising production costs and inflationary pressures, expressing satisfaction with this development.
In November 2023, the Minister previously secured a price reduction of some cement brands by 100 to 250 FCFA per bag, depending on the location. Consumers in Cameroon have been struggling with soaring cement prices.
The entry of Ciments du Portugal (Cimpor) into the market in July 2024 making it the sixth cement factory in Cameroon desolving Cimenteries du Cameroun’s (CIMENCAM) monopoly. The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) estimated that it would significantly boost cement production between July and September 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This expansion increased Cameroon’s total cement production capacity to 8.4 million tons, more than sufficient to meet the national demand of around 8 million tons and allow for potential exports
