At the start of June 2024, residents of Mbuji-Mayi, a town located in the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo, saw a significant drop in the price of a 50 kg bag of gray cement. Indeed, the cost of this essential building material has decreased significantly, from US$33 to US$27. This drop of 18.18% was welcomed with enthusiasm by local economic players, who underline the importance of maintaining this price stability on the market.
According to the observations of economic operators, this drop in price is the result of a greater supply of gray cement in the city, in particular thanks to the improvement in traffic since the start of the dry season. Trucks carrying bags of cement from Kinshasa and Lubumbashi flocked to Mbuji-Mayi, meeting the high demand for this essential product for construction.
Furthermore, the planned arrival of a freight train from the Société nationale de chemin de fer du Congo (SNCC) at Mwene-Ditu station suggests an increase in the supply of cement on the local market. Economic operators are optimistic about the regularity of this supply, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a certain drop and stability of prices to promote the economic development of the region.
In this context, Dominique Ilunga Nkashama, provincial director of the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC) in Kasai-Oriental, underlines the importance of maintaining the pace of cement supply to support the construction sector. It also calls for the rehabilitation of national roads, in particular the Mbuji-Mayi – Katanga area and Mbuji-Mayi-Kinshasa section, in order to facilitate the transport of products to landlocked provinces.
By supporting initiatives to improve road infrastructure and ensure a stable supply of cement, the FEC expresses its support for the government’s actions in favor of the country’s economic development. Maintaining this positive momentum is essential to ensure the availability of essential construction materials and promote economic growth in the region.
In conclusion, the drop in the price of cement in Mbuji-Mayi is an encouraging sign for the construction sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is essential to continue efforts to ensure a regular and affordable supply of cement, while investing in the infrastructure necessary to support the sustainable economic development of the region.