Industry and Commerce Ministry spokesman Federico Quezada said yesterday that contrary to claims by the industry, his Ministry did not authorize any price hike in cement. He said that the 12-15% price hike in gray cement imposed on Monday was done "unilaterally" by the members of the Dominican Association of Cement Producers, that the Ministry objected to the hike and called on the Association to justify the need for it. The sudden spike in cement costs is worrying the construction industry, which says it will substantially raise construction costs and may slow or stop some projects.
