Jamaica’s ongoing cement shortage is expected to ease within the coming weeks, with industry stakeholders signalling that supply conditions should gradually improve as production stabilises.
The Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica) said it received assurances from Caribbean Cement Company Limited during a meeting on Wednesday that the current shortfall should begin easing within the next three weeks, with a return to normal supply levels projected by mid-May.
According to the association, CCCL outlined a range of factors contributing to the shortage and said corrective measures are already underway. These include plans to ramp up production in order to close the existing supply gap, as well as steps to strengthen plant resilience and reduce the risk of future disruptions.
IMAJ also said discussions focused on the need to better align production capacity with rising demand across the construction sector, particularly as rebuilding activity increases in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
The association added that it will continue engaging with CCCL and other stakeholders to monitor progress, emphasising that a stable cement supply remains critical to both the construction industry and the wider economy.
Meanwhile, industry players say the market remains tight in the short term. Deanall Barnes, executive director of Atlantic Hardware and Plumbing, said the shortage is largely being driven by demand outpacing supply.
He pointed to increased construction activity linked to government recovery programmes, including the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) initiative and the Tourism Housing Assistance and Recovery Programme (THARP), both aimed at supporting housing repairs and rebuilding after hurricane damage.
Officials say these initiatives have significantly boosted demand for building materials, adding further pressure to an already constrained supply chain.
