Since early June, the price of a 50-kilogram bag of cement has surged across three provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), namely Maniema, Kasaï, and Kasaï Oriental. The increases are primarily driven by logistical bottlenecks and supply disruptions affecting several cities.

In Kindu, the capital of Maniema, the price of a bag of grey cement has jumped from 95,700 to 145,000 Congolese francs (about $35 to $50), marking a 51.5% increase. According to a business operator quoted by the Congolese Press Agency ACP, this spike stems from a shortage at distribution depots, caused by irregular rail traffic from the National Railway Company of Congo (SNCC). The same source noted that several wagons loaded with cement from Kalemie are reportedly stranded at intermediate stations, slowing deliveries to Kindu. The poor condition of National Road No. 3 (RN3), which links Kisangani (Tshopo Province) to the river port of Wanyelukula, which is a key transit point to Kindu, further aggravates the situation.

In Mbujimayi, capital of Kasaï Oriental, the price has risen from $24 to $27 per bag. Dominique Ilunga Nkashama, provincial director for the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC), acknowledged the severity of the crisis. He attributed the rise to cement volumes blocked from Grand Katanga due to a shortage of trains. Nkashama urged economic operators to deploy their trucks during the dry season to replenish markets.

A similar trend is evident in Kasaï province. In Tshikapa, prices have climbed from 33,000 to 45,000 Congolese francs (roughly $11 to $16), a 36% increase. The provincial Minister of Finance and Economy, Bazin Pembe, condemned what he called an "illegal" price imposed by certain traders taking advantage of a truckers’ strike in Kinshasa. He demanded an immediate return to the regulatory price range and threatened administrative sanctions for violators.

Similar actions have been taken in Kisangani, Tshopo province, to curb price speculation. On June 10, the public prosecutor ordered the closure of several cement depots for failing to comply with the $16 price cap set by provincial Economy Minister Sénold Tandia Akomboyo. In Kisangani, prices had surged to $22, compared to the usual average of around $14.

 This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya (Intern)

Edited in English by Mouka Mezonlin