The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (CeMAP) lauded the decision of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to impose a provisional safeguard measure on imported cement.
The DTI’s preliminary safeguard investigation found prima facie evidence of increased cement imports causing serious injury to the domestic industry, CeMAP said.
Citing data from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), CeMAP noted showed a sharp rise in cement imports, reaching an all-time high of 7.6 million tons in 2024, a 10-percent increase from 2023.
Despite the domestic industry’s capacity to produce at least 50 million tons annually, cement demand in 2024 is estimated at 35 million tons, with imports making up 7.6 million tons.
Increasing imports, the group said, pushed domestic capacity utilization down to 55 percent, impacting the industry’s financial health.
CeMAP said the safeguard measure not only helps manufacturers but also secures jobs and strengthens the Philippine economy.
While CeMAP supports fair competition, the continuous influx of imported cement, especially from Vietnam, threatens the country’s economic recovery.
Unchecked imports undermine local manufacturers’ ability to drive job creation, tax revenue, investments, and economic growth, it noted.
CeMAP promised to cooperate with the Tariff Commission in the next phase of the investigation.
