Cement shortfall hits retailers hard as clinker crisis heightens

Many cement dealers across the country are raising concerns over a growing shortage of major cement brands, attributing the disruption to a critical scarcity of clinker — a key raw material in cement production.

In the past two to four weeks, trademarks such as SOL Cement, Empire Cement, and Dzata Cement have become increasingly hard to find. This comes on the heels of a GH¢9 price hike on all cement products, largely driven by increasing port charges.

Retailers say their inability to restock has had immediate consequences, including turning away customers and losing revenue, as suppliers continue to struggle with clinker procurement.

Augustine Aduful, a cement retailer with over a decade of experience, voiced his frustration in an interview.

In a statement Aduful said, “As for the shortage, it happens every time. You pay, but then you’re told to wait for delivery. As I speak, they are short of clinker. Two weeks ago, I paid for SOL Cement, and when I called yesterday, I was told I won’t get my stock for another two weeks”.

Another dealer, Isaac Frimpong, reported that he has been out of stock of the 32.5R grade of Ghacem cement for several weeks. Explicating that, “Ghacem in particular, has been facing a shortage, affecting many businesses for that reason their customers are being forced to switch to alternatives like Diamond Cement”, calling for government intervention.

Frimpong added that, “the clinker shortage is being caused by overseas supply issues. Concluding the recent price hikes are tied to external factors. And he however hopes that with government intervention, the situation will stabilize”.

In response to the crisis, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry, Mr. Emmanuel Cherry, is pushing for a broader stakeholder dialogue to explore local alternatives to clinker.

In a statement Mr. Cherry said “As stakeholders, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ghana Standard Authority, should come together to explore ways to add value to the raw materials they already have. However, we cannot continue to rely solely on clinker in cement production.

He concluded saying, “Our manufacturing sector must start looking within, by utilizing available technology and research. Adding that, there should be a collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI) to leverage their findings and develop viable alternatives.

The shortage has sparked renewed debate over Ghana’s heavy dependence on imported clinker and the long-term sustainability of its cement supply chain.