Paraguay’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) said it is lifting restrictions on cement imports following the shortage of the product due to production issues.

The Paraguayan market requires a supply of 100,000 bags of cement per day. At present Industria Nacional del Cemento (INC) is able to dispatch only around 54,000 and in the last few days has only been delivering barely 4000 bags, according to ABC Color.

Cement is imported from Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina, according to CAPACO, the Paraguayan chamber of construction.

Deputy Minister of Commerce, Pedro Mancuello, has highlighted the issue with the raw material supply for INC and Yguazú Cementos, which is affected by transport issues on the Paraguay River’s  lower reaches.

In addition, clinker stocks are running low with clinker stocks at INC reportedly running out. Yguazú has repeatedly requested the MIC to be allowed to import clinker, but national legislation stipulates the mandatory use of national clinker.