Variety of cements available at different prices

Even though a variety of cements flood the market at different prices, some brands are notably scarce in Yaounde.

Due to the many options available, people who need cement in Yaounde, have no reason to worry. Although allegations of scarcity can be ruled out; it is worth noting that not all brands are readily available on the market.

The Mvog-Mbi market yesterday April 6, 2015 was full of activity as usual. In five building material shops visited, business was at its peak. The demand for cement was high as usual. Stockpiles of cement were visible in all the shops.

However, not all brands were available. Customers of imported brands, especially “Conch”, could not be served. A customer who came to one of the numerous shops in Mvog Mbi was interested in the “Cimaf” brand. But he got his disappointment of the day when attendants indicated that they had run out of stock on that brand.

Gerard was quick to note that the brand was in short supply. He explained that their shop has not been supplied with “Cimaf” cement in the last two weeks.

Next to the shop was another branch of a big construction material shop but they had also run out of stocks for “Cimaf”. However, it was noted that all shops visited had “Cimencam” as well as “Ciment Colle” brands. The only shop that had “Cimaf” was SOREPCO.

When Cameroon Tribune got to its warehouse in Mvog-Mbi, 30 tonnes of “Cimaf” (600 sacks) were being off-loaded. A worker who preferred not to be named said they were in the process of supplying their retail shops at FCFA 4,950 per bag.

In Mokolo, the center for the sale of construction materials, some customers were obliged to change their choices. Available in almost seven shops visited was “Cimencam”, sold at FCFA 4,960 per bag, whereas no shop had “Cimaf”.

It was also noted that not all shops trade in all brands. Only one shop had “Dangote Cement”. The price per sack was FCFA 5,200, same as “Cimaf” in some of the shops.

The Cooperate Technical Director of Cimaf, Karim Moumni, was surprised to hear of the scarcity. He told Cameroon Tribune that their plant has not witnessed any reduction in production.

Karim explained that the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development had questioned them on this issue. He stressed that the company meets the 36,000 tonnes weekly demand.

The Director of Internal Trade in the Ministry of Trade, Valentin Mbarga Bihina on March 20, 2015, refuted allegations of cement scarcity. He disclosed that the three production units in Douala, Littoral Region have the capacity to meet demand.

The country consumes over 2.5 and 3 million tonnes annually. He revealed that local production stands at 3.7 million tonnes annually, with 1.6 million tonnes produced by the Cimenteries du Cameroun, Cimencam, 500,000 tonnes by Ciments d’Afrique, Cimaf, while Dangote Cement is expected to supply the market with 1.6 million metric tonnes annually.