The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry has petitioned the Ministry of Finance to undertake an urgent review of recent increases in Freight on Board (FOB) values applied to key cement production inputs, following concerns raised by Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG).
In a communication responding to the industry petition, the Ministry drew attention to what it described as a need for “urgent review” of the revised FOB benchmarks on clinker and granulated furnace slag, noting that the adjustments could have significant implications for production costs within the cement value chain.
According to the industry submission referenced by the Ministry, the FOB value of clinker has increased sharply from USD 40.00 per metric ton to USD 136.00 per metric ton, while granulated furnace slag has moved from USD 3.00 to USD 40.00 per metric ton. The changes, attributed to the introduction of a Publican Al system, are reported to have triggered a reassessment of applicable duties and taxes on imported raw materials.
The Ministry noted that the cement sector remains central to Ghana’s housing, construction, and infrastructure development agenda, stressing that the recent revisions could “substantially raise production costs,” with a likely pass-through effect on end-user prices. It further cautioned that such developments may present risks to affordability and broader sectoral growth if not carefully managed.
COCMAG’s petition, as conveyed through the Ministry, is seeking government intervention to mitigate the impact of the new FOB valuations, arguing that the adjustments could disrupt cost structures across the industry. The Ministry has, in turn, requested the Finance Ministry’s engagement on the matter to safeguard industry sustainability while balancing fiscal considerations.
