The price for a 50kg bag of cement has been increased by manufacturers effective August 30.
Checks by JOYBUSINESS showed all the major manufacturers have increased their prices on the market.
One of the major cement manufacturers, GHACEM, has also increased its prices.
GHACEM’s Price List
GHACEM’s new price list for its distributors seen by JOYBUSINESS showed that a 50-kilogram bag of cement of Super Rapid is going for GH¢64.59.
Super Strong is selling at GH¢68 per 50-kilogram bag, while the GHACEM Extra is going for GH¢72.91.
Why the increase?
Some of the manufacturers say the increase has been influenced by a sudden rise in the cost of operations, from July 2022, due to the sharp depreciation of the cedi over the past months.
Officials at one of the manufacturing firms told JOYBUSINESS on condition of anonymity that, “when the factory price (wholesale price) of a 50 kilogram was about ¢59.00, it was based on an exchange rate of around GH¢7.60 in June this year”.
Some of the Manufacturers also told JOYBUSINESS that customers should expect about GH¢8 to GH¢15 increase per 50-kilogram bag in the market.
This will, however, be influenced by the location as Accra may have a different price from the other regional capitals due to transportation.
The rising cost of operations
“Based on the fact that most of the manufacturers have to import some of the raw materials at a dollar rate of more than ¢9.00, someone has to take care of this sudden increase in cost,” a manufacturer said.
Some of the manufacturers have also told Joy Business that it has been very difficult to absorb all the rising costs of operations, and there is the need to share some of the burdens with consumers.
This might be the second time in less than three months that the price of the product has gone up due to what the manufacturers say is the rising cost of production
Impact on housing industry
The development may impact the prices of houses in the short term and the personal budget of many individuals who are currently putting up houses in the country.
It could also impact the cost of ongoing construction projects.
Reducing Cement prices
Manufacturers had in recent times pushed for government to take a second look at the taxes on the inputs and charges at Ghana’s Ports.
They had hoped government will take an action to help reduce the price of cement.
It is the hope that these manufacturers will see review taxes/levies at the ports and this could help slow down the hikes in the price of cement recorded in recent times.