ST JAMES, Jamaica — The Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ) says following a meeting on Wednesday with executives of Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCCL), it has been assured that the current cement shortage should ease by next month as the company moves to address supply constraints and restore normal production levels.

“At the meeting, CCCL outlined the factors contributing to the current shortfall and provided assurances that corrective measures are underway. The company has indicated that it expects supply conditions to progressively improve over the next three weeks, with normalisation anticipated by mid-May,” a release from IMAJ said.

The statement from IMAJ further revealed that “in addressing the immediate challenges, CCCL has committed to increasing production output to close the current supply gap”.

“The company also indicated that it is actively reviewing measures to strengthen plant resilience and reduce the risk of similar disruptions in the future,” the IMAJ release said.

“Further, discussions included the need to align production capacity with the elevated demand levels currently being experienced across the sector and to plan for an anticipated increase in future demand arising from Hurricane Melissa reconstruction activity,” it added.

The IMAJ committed to “continue to engage closely with CCCL and other stakeholders to monitor progress against these commitments”.

“The association underscores the critical importance of consistent and reliable cement supply to the effective operation of the construction market and the broader economy,” the IMAJ said.

On Wednesday, Deanall Barnes, executive director of Atlantic Hardware and Plumbing in the Corporate Area, had told Observer Online, “There is still a tightness in the cement market.”

He attributed the shortage to a combination of factors, including increased demand outpacing supply, driven in part by government initiatives such as the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) programme and the Tourism Housing Assistance and Recovery Programme (THARP), which he thinks may have further exacerbated the situation.

With an initial allocation of $10 billion, ROOFS is a government initiative that helps residents with hurricane-damaged homes rebuild by offering tiered grants based on the severity of damage. Administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the programme requires official assessments for eligibility.

Meanwhile, TEF is providing relief for tourism workers in Trelawny and surrounding areas affected by Hurricane Melissa, through THARP. Eligible workers, including hotel staff and contractors, can receive up to $100,000 for housing repairs.

“Both [ROOF and THARP] have components where persons actually ask for cement and blocks. So, primarily in the western end of the country, there is an increase in the demand for cement. That has been happening over the past three, four months. But now that these programmes are fully up and running, you find that there is material tightness. Even we ourselves [are] struggling to get adequate quantities consistently,” Barnes explained.

Last week, Lloyd Gillings, a hardware operator in Albert Town, Trelawny, said the ongoing cement shortage has reached crisis levels and is severely affecting his business.

He explained that suppliers are limiting purchases to small quantities and, in some cases, requiring customers to buy other items before accessing cement. The situation has forced him to travel extensively to source even modest amounts of cement, while larger companies appear to have better access.

He noted that supplies are especially scarce in southern Trelawny, though conditions are reportedly slightly better there than in some parts of Manchester.

Alex Chen, operator of the popular Just In Hardware in Falmouth, Trelawny, also disclosed that for the past two weeks, the business has been running out of cement.

On Wednesday, Observer Online obtained a copy of a letter, dated April 21, purportedly from a major player in the construction sector to their customers, advising of a chronic cement shortage due to production challenges at their supplier, Caribbean Cement Company Limited. The disruption, the correspondent claims, has been felt for most of March and April.

Customers were thanked for their understanding and promised updates as the situation evolves.

Carib Cement is the primary cement manufacturer in the country. The company has since indicated that continued heavy rainfall has impacted its operations, creating challenges with raw material conditions and contributing to some equipment and process disruptions that temporarily affected production levels.

In a press release on Wednesday, the company said some delays persist due to heightened demand and ongoing adverse weather, but assured that efforts are underway to restore optimal production.

It said dedicated teams have worked extensively to address the issues, implementing measures to stabilise affected equipment and improve operating conditions.

Carib Cement added that work continues to fully resolve the remaining constraints, with additional measures being put in place to strengthen processes and enhance overall supply reliability.