Harnessing potential
Ahead of next month’s XXXI FICEM Technical Congress in the Dominican Republic, ICR speaks with the country’s cement association, Adocem, to learn more about its hopes for continued recovery in domestic demand, the importance of exports given the current overcapacity situation and the strides being made by local producers in sustainable cement production.
Dominican Republic cement producers enjoyed the benefits of an expanding cement market last year.
Pictured: Domicem’s Sabana Grande de Palenque works
Last year proved to be somewhat of a turning point for the Dominican Republic’s seven cement producers as domestic consumption recorded a double-digit rise, marking the end of six consecutive years of contraction. The Law for the Development of the Mortgage Market helped increase construction activity, and while its level of stimulus did fall short of expectations, the encouraging trends witnessed last year are giving rise to further optimism. Efforts by the Dominican government to boost the economy played a key role and are predicted to continue making an impact. For instance, the National School Building Programme will see the construction of 28,000 new classrooms. Falling cement prices, which are a result of the country’s extensive overcapacity, have also gone some way towards increasing sales.
