Government of Uzbekistan has instructed the Antimonopoly Committee to develop proposals to increase the volume of imported cement. The goal is to reduce the market deficit and lower the prices. Imports of cement are currently complicated by a lengthy 28-day procedure.
As a result, in 1H 2020, the price of cement traded at Uzbek Commodity Exchange (UzEx) increased by 59 %, to 797,000 soums per ton (78 US dollars). By order of the government, UzEx has recently set a limit on daily cement trade.
Importing parties are required to undergo a series of laboratory tests and confirm their product’s GOST compliance before cement reaches the market. The cement deficit in Uzbekistan was also caused by a month-long ban on the import of white and other Portland cement introduced by a decree of the Government of Uzbekistan dated April 23.
Along with simplifying the importing procedure, the Antimonopoly Committee plans on strengthening liabilities for importers of low-quality products. Standartization metrology and certification agency of Uzbekistan, State Customs Committee and Uzpromstroymaterialy Association will also participate in the development of the future regulatory act.
“The demand for cement continues to grow, and local producers still cannot fully meet it,” said the Antimonopoly Committee representative.
Six new cement enterprises with a total design capacity of 4.9 million tpa are currently being built in Uzbekistan. The design capacity of existing enterprises is 15.1 million tpa. The largest by capacity are Qizilqumsement, Akhangaranсement, Almalyk MMC, Bekabadcement and Quvasaycement.
