Panama's Ministry of Housing requires different supplies to improve abandoned properties in deplorable conditions in the provinces of Chorrillo, Santa Ana and Calidonia.
Panama Government Purchase 2021-0-14-0-08-08-LP-018752:
"The bidding will be on a lump sum basis to obtain the 127 various supplies needed to make improvements to abandoned properties in poor condition in Chorrillo, Santa Ana and Calidonia. Some of the supplies are as follows:
In recent years, cement from Vietnam has gained importance in terms of amount purchased, as in 2016 it represented just 0.01% of total regional imports and in 2020 it became the main supplier, as the share went up to 32%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
In recent years, cement from Vietnam has gained importance in terms of the amount purchased, as from January to September 2018 they represented 10% of total regional imports and for the same period in 2020 the proportion rose to 30%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua were the Central American markets that increased their hydraulic cement imports in the first half of 2020 in year-on-year terms.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
During the first quarter of 2020, Central American companies imported hydraulic cement for $48 million, and purchases from Turkey increased 154% compared to the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graph"]
The Legislative Assembly approved in second debate a bill that aims to tax in the country the sale and self-consumption of imported or locally produced cement.
The initiative, which was approved in the first debate in the Assembly in mid-February and is still pending approval by the Executive Branch, establishes that the tax will be on imported cement produced nationally, in bags or in bulk, for sale or self-consumption, of any kind, whose destination is the consumption and marketing of the product nationally.
During 2020, Holcim announced that it will invest $7.5 million in the construction of six concrete production plants and the purchase of machinery.
The new concrete plants that the company is already building will be in Santa Ana, Acajutla, Apopa, Ilopango, La Paz and La Unión. These will be in addition to the 12 that Holcim already operates in the country.
After Monterrey business group completed the construction of its new industrial plant with capacity to produce 120 thousand tons of cement per year, the company is preparing to start selling in the local market.
During the first quarter of 2019, Central American companies imported hydraulic cement for $47 million, and purchases from companies in Vietnam increased 155% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In the municipality of Acajutla, the Monterrey business group began construction of an industrial plant with the capacity to produce 120 thousand tons of cement per year.
Executives of the company of Guatemalan origin, reported that the construction of the industrial plant will be done on a 10-block lot that is on the road connecting Acajutla and Sonsonate.
During the first nine months of 2018, Central American companies imported hydraulic cement for $110 million, and purchases from Mexico doubled compared to the same period in 2017.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Holcim S.A. in El Salvador was sanctioned for "having failed in its duty of collaboration to provide the information and documentation required to the Superintendence of Competition."
From the Superintendence of Competition statement:
February 27, 2019. The Board of Directors of the Superintendence of Competition (CDSC) sanctioned Holcim S.A.
During the first six months of 2018, Central American companies imported hydraulic cement for $77 million, and purchases from China increased 42% over the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the the Hydraulic Cement Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]