KINGSTON, Jamaica — Severe recent rainfall has forced operational shutdowns at Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCCL), the island’s leading domestic cement producer, triggering widespread supply shortages across Jamaica’s construction market. In response, the country’s Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) has moved rapidly to implement emergency measures designed to close the supply gap and restore market stability.
In an official statement published Thursday, the ministry confirmed that short-term interim interventions have already been rolled out, even as CCCL prioritizes repairing equipment, addressing operational bottlenecks, and bringing production back to full capacity. Among the emergency steps is the diversion of a cargo vessel originally destined for The Bahamas, which is now scheduled to dock in Jamaica this Saturday, April 25, carrying a load of cement to restock local inventories. A second, larger shipment totaling 28,400 tonnes of cement is also on track to arrive in early May, further bolstering available supply.
In addition to arranging emergency cargo diversions, the ministry — headed by industry minister Senator Aubyn Hill — has approved a expanded import quota for Buying House Company Limited, a local importer, specifically to address unmet demand in the western region of the country, where shortages have been particularly acute.
Senator Hill emphasized the critical role of consistent cement supply for Jamaica’s ongoing recovery and economic activity, noting that the construction sector remains a core driver of reconstruction in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. “Cement is far more than a construction input — it is a foundational building block of our national economic momentum and growth,” Hill explained in the statement. “We moved quickly to mitigate short-term disruptions so that local builders, property developers, and outside investors can continue their projects without uncertainty and keep driving progress.”
Hill added that the incoming emergency imports will not only stabilize the entire construction sector but also help protect existing jobs that rely on consistent construction activity. The ministry, he confirmed, will maintain close monitoring of the market and continue collaborating with private sector industry partners to ensure efficient market function as CCCL works to resume normal output. CCCL has also reaffirmed its commitment to resolving all remaining production constraints and returning output to projected target levels in the near term.