Algeria : entrepreneurs accuse “cement barons” of building materials stoking price spiral

A senior trade ministry official said that the recent staggering price hike of building materials, including cement in Algeria was mainly due to the temporary closure of 5 cement production units in several parts of the country.

He explained that the closure of these production factories was aimed at allowing for the thorough renovation of the facilities in order to boost cement production in the near future.

He also indicated that the drop in cement production, recorded in the recent weeks, had as a result triggered a steep increase in the price of cement and other building materials.

He added that the government had, of late, taken a set of measures to regulate the market and curb ongoing speculation practises.

In this connection, a group of entrepreneurs have accused what they called the barons of cement stoking speculation on this building material and diverting large stocks of cement to the black market for massive spin-offs in blatant defiance of the country’s laws and regulations.