the industry of cement in the Dominican Republic it remains one of the most competitive in recent years, with a retail price of hardware stores 23% lower than the average for the region, equivalent to two dollars cheaper per cover, according to a recent study from the consulting firm DASA.
For the analysis, in addition to the local statistics published by the Central Bank, the sales prices to the public in hardware stores in countries such as Colombia, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, among others, have been taken as a reference. others, whose prices range between US$8.3 and US$10.1.
The aforementioned analysis indicates that in the country the price of sale to the public, in its equivalent in dollars today in hardware stores, is equal to the price of 10 years ago, in an industry that 70% of its costs are imported, for which are not exempt from the rapid increases in raw materials worldwide.
On the other hand, if we take into account the increase in the purchasing power of Dominicans in recent years, with the current minimum wage, you can buy almost twice as many cement of what could be purchased in 2012, says a press release.
According to the housing cost index of the National Statistics Office (ONE), the evolution of the prices of construction materials buildingcomparing December 2020 with the same month in 2021, shows that the cement It is one of the inputs for the building with the lowest price increases in that period, 14%, compared to other materials that even exceed 50%.
“The importance of having a local industry that produces cementwhose installed capacity reaches eight million tons, guarantees stability in the supply of this product and frees us from the high costs and outflow of foreign exchange that would mean importing and the consequent impact on a sector such as the building which has become the main engine of the economy,” he adds.
According to public sources, the total investment of the companies that make up the cement in the country amounts to US$1,270 million, generating important sources of employment. In addition, it is an industry that requires constant annual investments to maintain the levels of production and efficiency that an industry like this requires in optimal conditions.
Thanks to this investment, the Dominican Republic has gone from being a net importer of cement to be self-sufficient and manage to export up to 20% of its production, concludes the press release.
The main factor that has influenced the good positioning of the cement that is produced in the country both locally and in other markets, has been to offer the consumer a product that meets all possible guarantees in terms of quality.
