Cement industry likely to start 2021 with no protection against imports

South Africa's construction industry may be seeing a revival following the government kicking off its special infrastructure projects, but for the cement industry the battle against cheap imports continues and may intensify in 2021, as anti-dumping protection will no longer be in place in the new year.

For the past five years, South Africa's cement industry, made up of companies like PPC, AfriSam, Sephaku Cement and Lafarge Industries, has had anti-dumping tariff protection against cement from Pakistan, which they contest is undermining the local industry. Much like the construction industry's woes, cement's issues date back to the heady time before the country hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when the excitement and boom in infrastructure development led to an increase in demand and limited capacity.