In the annual meeting of the Ministry of Construction (MICONS) the Cuban government acknowledged a drastic decline in cement production, which in 2024 reached only 10 % of the country's installed capacity.
“In 2024, only 258,000 tons of cement were produced, which is 10 % of the country’s installed capacity, not including the new factories currently under construction,” explained Reynolds Ramírez Vigaud, president of the OSDE Group of Business Construction Materials.
Among the main causes of this crisis, the Cuban regime identified the shortage of energy providers, a result of the complex national financial situation, as emphasized by the leaders in the meeting.
The construction sector in Cuba has faced structural problems for decades. As early as 2017, the cement industry was operating at 58 % of its capacity, and since then the situation has continued to deteriorate due to a lack of investment, the energy crisis, and restrictions on importing supplies.
In recent years, the country has experienced critical episodes, such as the loss of large quantities of cement in warehouses due to logistical issues and the shutdown of factories.
Despite initiatives such as the production of the first eco-friendly cement in 2018 and the reopening of the Sancti Spíritus plant in 2022, the sector has not achieved sustained recovery and failed to meet the annual housing plan.
Furthermore, the government has prioritized the export of materials to obtain foreign currency, which exacerbates local scarcity and makes access to these supplies more expensive for the population. Nevertheless, the prime minister emphasized the need to increase cement production for export.
The meeting also indicated that this year production will commence at the new cement factories being built in Santiago de Cuba and Nuevitas, which could contribute to the recovery of the sector.
