The recent increase in the prices of cement (16%) and iron bars (45%) since April 2020 is penalising many Mauritians. They feel that this is an exaggerated increase. However, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce, the new prices do not reflect the increase in the cost of production.
On MBC’s Focus programme, Commerce Minister Soodesh Callichurn said: “Mo Permanent Secretary (PS) finne join banne operators and importers of cement and iron bars. I don’t really agree with the increases that are being passed on to consumers. As I watched, checked and analysed the various production costs on the international market, I did not reflect the price increases that were finally implemented.
He also called on operators and importers to review the price increases for cement and iron bars. “I say it straight out. If they don’t lower the prices in the next few months, the government would be forced to control the prices of these building materials,” he added.
However, Soodesh Callichurn made it clear that the government is studying the possibility of importing cement through the State Trading Corporation (STC), before taking decisions and studying the market and its impact on other businesses in the country. “This decision is important because since last year, the price of cement has risen by more than 16%. This is not possible. At the end of the day, it is the consumers, especially those who want to build their houses and government projects that will suffer delays and additional costs,” said the Minister of Commerce, who added: “We don’t want that to happen. We want to develop at a reasonable price, but not exorbitantly expensive as is currently practiced.
