MoTIE Declares Cement Market Stable Amid Supply Concerns, Importers Call for Open Competition

The Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE)

By Buba Gagigo

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment (MoTIE) has announced that the national cement market has stabilized, following recent supply chain disruptions linked to international tariff changes. While the ministry assures the public that cement supplies are now secure, the Cement Importers Association is urging the government to open the market to more competition to prevent potential price hikes and supply vulnerabilities.

In a statement issued on Friday, MoTIE confirmed that the availability of Portland Cement has returned to normal levels after temporary shortages caused by the renegotiation of international supply contracts, following new U.S. tariff policies.
Current Cement Stock Levels:

Jah Multi Industries: 54,457 metric tons (MT)

Gacem: 21,000 MT

Salam Cement: 59,000 MT

Confirmed Incoming Shipments:Jah Multi Industries:

34,850 MT arriving June 15, 2025

44,150 MT arriving June 19, 2025

38,600 MT arriving June 22, 2025

Gacem:

15,000 MT arriving June 14, 2025

15,000 MT arriving June 16, 2025

Salam Cement:

38,000 MT arriving June 30, 2025

With these stocks and additional shipments en route, the ministry assured the public that cement supplies will remain stable and market demand will be consistently met.

“MoTIE remains committed to ensuring supply stability, promoting fair pricing, and supporting the timely execution of construction and infrastructure projects across the country,” the ministry stated.Factory Prices for Portland Cement:

Jah Multi Industries – GMD 390 per bag (42.5R)

Salam Cement – GMD 330 per bag (32.5R)

Gacem – GMD 420 per bag (42.5R)

The ministry also urged the public to support local cement importers as part of the national push toward industrialization.

“Strengthening domestic capacity and supporting local suppliers is crucial for long-term supply security, job creation, and reducing dependency on imports. Industrialization can only succeed with collective commitment,” MoTIE emphasized.

Responding to MoTIE’s statement, Momodou Jobe, Secretary General of the Cement Importers Association, welcomed the resumption of stable supplies but stressed the need to address structural issues in the sector.“The Gambia does not produce cement. Any restrictions—whether on bulk or bagged cement—artificially limit supply in a country entirely reliant on imports,” Jobe said. “The best solution is to maximize competition and expand supply to drive prices down.”

He cited studies by the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (GCCPC), which consistently found that when importers are restricted, prices increase, and supply constraints emerge.

Jobe noted that prior to the government’s ban on bagged cement, prices stood at D370 per bag, but have since risen to D525 per bag—a D155 increase that he attributes to supply restrictions and simultaneous price hikes by the three main importers: Jah Oil, Gacem, and Salam Cement.“All three companies raised their prices within 24 hours of each other just last month. This pattern suggests coordinated pricing, which undermines market competition,” Jobe argued. “The government’s quoted factory prices do not reflect what consumers actually pay, especially when transport, storage, and handling costs are factored in.”

He further pointed out that retailers are facing wait times of over four weeks for deliveries, indicating a supply bottleneck despite official claims.“Our current market functions like an oligopoly. When competition is limited, dominant players can and will raise prices, knowing consumers have no alternatives,” he added.

Jobe emphasized The Gambia’s overdependence on imported cement and the country’s exposure to global supply chain risks.

“The Gambia does not control raw materials, manufacturing, or shipping routes. The entire market is vulnerable to global shocks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vessel shipments stopped for 18 months. It was Senegal’s supply routes that saved us,” he said, warning that ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, could once again disrupt shipments.

He also questioned the economic logic behind current trade policies.

“The three dominant importers employ only about 500 people directly. Yet, the D155 price increase multiplied by the estimated 100,000 bags consumed daily translates to an additional D5.6 billion per year in construction costs—about 3% of the national GDP—all to protect a few re-bagging operations importing cement themselves,” he said.

Jobe argued that The Gambia should prioritize sourcing cement from Senegal, an ECOWAS member with established cement factories less than 300 kilometers away. He pointed out that bagged cement could be transported daily from Senegal at lower costs and within 24 hours.“Encouraging this supply chain would strengthen regional trade and align with the government’s commitment to ECOWAS integration. The focus should be on reducing construction costs for Gambians, not protecting artificial monopolies,” he said. “A diversified, open market is the only sustainable path to securing reliable supply and affordable prices.”