Argentina: cement price nearly doubles in 2015

Cement prices have jumped between 70-90 per cent in 2015. At the start of the year, a 50kg bag would retail at ARP75-80 (US$5.8-6) while by the end of 2015, the price had risen to ARP125-145 (US$9.6-11), according to local press reports.

The rise is attributed to speculative behaviour rather than higher production costs, exacerbated by the political pre-election uncertainty, which was ended by a change in president which saw Mauricio Macri take over from Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner after 12 years of Kirchner family rule.