Tanzania forced to import more cement from Pakistan

Country may be facing acute cement shortage because one of the local plants has been idled.

A breakdown in one of Tanzania's cement plants has led to the country to import more cement from Pakistan to make up for a looming shortage, a report from the Express Tribune said.

Masoud Hamisi of Tandika hardware said due to shortage he decided to import cement from Pakistan.

“There is no local cement. We have turned to imported supplies.” Cement producers say production cost is too high in Tanzania compared to that of Pakistan.

While it costs $86 to transport one ton cement from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma, the same quantity could be transported from Karachi in Pakistan to Dar es Salaam for just $25, the report said.