Kenya's Cement Producers Push for Heavy Duties on Clinker Imports, an Industrial Info Market Brief

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Major cement producers across Kenya are asking the government to impose a duty of at least 25% on raw material imports. They believe restrictions on clinker imports would bolster local industries against foreign competition, create more jobs for Kenyans and save the country billions of shillings in foreign exchange annually.

Kenya imports about 2 million tonnes of clinker annually, costing the country more than $100 million in foreign exchange every year. Producers believe taming clinker imports would cut cement prices and encourage more Kenyans to build affordable houses. Cement players such as Devki Group, Mombasa Cement, Bamburi Cement and Savannah Cement are among those voicing concerns.

Devki Group plans to increase capacity at its Emali plant in Kajiado County to 3.5 million tonnes of clinker annually. Industrial Info is tracking more than $677 million worth of active cement-production projects across Kenya. Click here for a list, and see map below.