The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has renewed temporary restrictions on imports of cement, clinker and lime in parts of the country as the government steps up efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on imported construction materials.
The renewed measures, signed on 29 July by Foreign Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya, continue restrictions on grey cement and clinker imports into the country’s western and southeastern regions, while lime imports remain restricted in the southeast.
Unlike an outright ban, the policy allows companies to apply for exemptions when locally produced materials cannot adequately meet industrial or consumer demand.
Importers seeking waivers must provide documentation validated by SEGUCE-RDC, the country’s single-window foreign trade platform.
The latest decision extends a trade policy first introduced in July 2024, when Kinshasa imposed temporary safeguards to shield domestic cement and lime producers from cheaper imported products while encouraging investment in local production.
