Egypt’s Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade has said it will take measures to curb rises in cement prices following meetings held with cement companies, according to local press reports.

Hatem Saleh, Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade, has met with representatives from cement manufacturers in Egypt to discuss the reasons behind the recent hikes and to help control the increases, AllAfrica press reported.

Last week, the ministry said it is considering imposing a levy on cement exports as a result of higher cement prices on the local market. Minister Saleh noted that the hikes are inconsistent with the increases in energy prices and stressed that the government is keen to make cement available to the market at affordable prices and for enough quantities to be available to up with demand momentum.