Lafarge imports cement to boost stocks, Philippines
Lafarge Cement has imported 7,300t of cement from Taiwan as contingency supply while its cement line in its Bulacan plant undergoes annual maintenance work.
Cirilo M. Pestano, vice-president for communications of Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines) Inc., said the Department of Trade and Industry has advised them the shipment, which arrived last Tuesday, January 12, could no longer take advantage of the zero tariff privilege and therefore be slapped with the regular most nationa tariff of five per cent. “This importation will supplement or serve as security stock for us while our bulk cement line is under repair,” Pastano said. According to Pestano, the annual maintenance for this particular line of its Republic Bulacan plant would last for 10 days.
Maintenance work started Wenesday, January 13. Pestano explained they have decided to import for the first time to beef up its stock because they cannot afford a repeat of the tightness in cement supply last December as most cement plants underwent annual repair and maintenance work.
“We cannot afford not to have enough supply because we have the lion share of the bulk cement market in the country. We cannot fail our clients,” he said. Lafarge accounts for as much as 80 per cent market share in Luzon alone.