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Growing Towards a Sustainable Future – Part 2

World Cement,


Read Part 1 of this article here.

Construction and demand

As is well-known, the performance of cement markets around the world is intertwined with that of the construction sector, which, in turn, depends closely on a country’s economic and urban construction policies. During the first half of 2013, the construction market in the Dominican Republic contracted by 4.3%. However, it recuperated in the following months, reaching growth of 8.6% by the close of the year.

This was reflected in the region’s cement sector, which achieved sales of around 3 million t in 2013, representing a significant increase of around 16% when compared with 2012, thus breaking with the negative trend experienced since 2007. This improvement is due to the government’s decision to inject liquidity into development, and particularly to the initiatives focused on infrastructure projects and schools in different provinces of the country.

At the time of writing (June 2014) local demand for cement is 25% above the corresponding period in 2013, which, as mentioned above, was at its lowest point in the first half of the year.

One of the factors that has helped to invigorate local cement demand is a drop in product prices. This results from a common trend in small markets such as the Dominican Republic, where competition is high.

In the past two years, sales prices for customers across various distribution channels have fallen by 18%.

The rise in demand experienced last year, and thus far this year, allows for an optimistic outlook for the remainder of 2014. Market growth of between 10% and 15% is expected by the end of the year. In the short-term, growth will be determined by projects already underway in the public sector, and in the medium and long-term, it will depend on the implementation of several initiatives designed to boost the mortgages market and construction of low cost housing in the country, which could serve as an agent of change for the greater development of the sector.

Housing and roads

At present, the Dominican Republic is in an excellent position to take advantage of the formidable potential of its cement industry. This means increasing its participation in the development of housing, roads and other major infrastructure investments, areas in which the high demand for cement has not yet been fully realised.

The housing deficit in the country is estimated at a million units, with a demand of 30 000 homes pa. This represents an opportunity for the private construction sector, which would benefit from a transparent legal framework encouraging sustainable investment in the housing sector.

The same applies to road infrastructure. The cement industry makes a persistent effort to encourage the use of cement and concrete in the Dominican Republic’s highways and roads. The multiple technical arguments for this have already been proven, i.e. high durability, low maintenance costs, as well as improved lifespan, thereby avoiding the need for periodic investment in repairs, refurbishments and replacements.

Foreign trade

The Dominican Republic has transitioned from a net importer of cement to a self-sufficient manufacturer that exports approximately 30% of the cement it produces.

Haiti is the main export market for Dominican cement, both before and after the earthquake that devastated the country in January 2010. Cement is also exported to other countries, mainly in the Caribbean.

Conclusion

The cement industry in the Dominican Republic has developed into a reference point for the dynamism and growth experienced by the country. The sector will continue to focus on future development while sharing its knowledge and experience of current trends and issues in support of the country and its construction industry.


Written by Julissa Baez, Executive Director, Dominican Cement Producers Association, Dominican Republic. This is an abridged version of the full article, which appeared in the August 2014 issue of World Cement. Subscribers can view the full article by logging in.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/07082014/growing-towards-a-sustainable-future-part-2-190/

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