The cement It has been one of the construction materials that lower price increase had in 12 months, when the country suffered the consequences of the war between Russia and Ukraine, which increased production costs by more than 47%, reported today the president of the Dominican Association of Producers of Cement (adocem), Felix Gonzalez.
“From October 2021 to October 2022, the cement It is one of the inputs for the construction with the minor increase of prices during the last yearof approximately 15.9 percent, less than the increases produced in other countries”, based on the index of direct costs of housing construction published by the National Statistics Office (ONE), González highlighted to the press during the celebration of a thanksgiving mass for the 75th anniversary of the cement in the country.
In the framework of the celebration of the religious act, the president of adocem said that industrialists plan to assume the year 2023 like a opportunity to invigorate their efforts and from the industry to continue contributing to the economic development of the country.
He recalled that in recent years the industry did the commitment to contribute decisively with the economic stability and policy that the state has achieved, recognizing that thanks to the role played by the government in implementing structural reforms in key areas, public-private partnerships, along with efforts to increase the quality of human capital and attract foreign direct investment, they have been increasingly important in sustaining the country’s growth potential.
“The Cement industry has contributed decisively to that stability, not only through quality jobs and contributions to the treasury, but also, although in general the cost structure in the production of cement has been strongly impacted, we have pfailed to supply and meet the demands local and international exports,” he said.
When speaking to the other members of the association that brings together the companies that produce cementassured that with effort they have maintained stability and competitiveness in the commercialization of cementwith prices well below of how it is marketed in other countries of the region, which has been an achievement for 2023.
Historical contributions to the economy
The executive highlighted the conclusions of a recent study that became known about the economic impact of the industry, carried out by the economic consulting company DASA, where it was highlighted that the contribution of the industrial sector amounts to 43,000 million pesos, representing 0.89% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Before beginning the formalities of the act, González offered information on the industry history of cementwhich was initiated at the end of the decade of 1930, under the initiative of former President Rafael Leonidas Trujillo.
He explained that, after Trujillo’s decision, studies began to seek foreign advice and determine the feasibility and infrastructure to install a factory cement in the country. After that process, it was inaugurated in 1947 the first national company of its kind: “Dominican Cement Factory”known as La Cementera.
He also highlighted the 42 years of Adocem’s birthdaywhich has managed not only to be part of history, but also has all the arguments and potential to maintain the alliance of the cement with Dominican society for at least another 75 years.