Some Chinese cement producers and suppliers were taking advantage of Beijing’s environmental crackdown to artificially hike prices, according to the Wuhan Concrete (Mortar) Association. This has led to the suspension of some construction projects.

"Particularly upstream cement producers and suppliers have taken the opportunity to exaggerate the impact from the environmental crackdown and output cuts to raise prices in a disorderly way multiple times in November and make supplies artificially short,” the association said. It urged local governments to investigate

Beijing has ordered cutbacks in industrial output, including cement production, to crack down on pollution as part of its drive to clear the skies.