The turbulent cement industry will see another significant change, with plants gearing up for upward price adjustments. Managers of cement companies, who have been disgruntled by the surge in the price of inputs, are awaiting the completion of an assessment undertaken to gauge their cost structures.

The assessment is to be undertaken by experts from the Chemical & Construction Inputs Industry Development Institute, who want to validate the wholesale prices proposed by the cement companies. While factory-gate prices will only be officially disclosed after the conclusion of the assessment, prices are expected to increase between 20pc and 30pc of the 400 Br a quintal available now, according to industry sources.

Once the officials at the Ministry of Trade & Industry have endorsed the assessment result, the readjusted prices will be imposed on the 13 cement plants, which have the combined capacity to produce 8.5 million tonnes of cement a year. Among the plants, Derba Cement has the largest production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes, followed by Messebo Cement and Dangote, each having the capacity to produce 200,000tn less.

Annual demand is believed to have surpassed 12 million tonnes.

"We're in the final stage of the assessment," said Samuel Halala, director-general of the Institute. "The results will be announced in the weeks ahead."

The measure comes at a time when there is a shortfall in production due to maintenance work at some plants, and the closure of Messebo Cement, one of the three largest cement producers, due to the war in Tigray Regional State. Rare is also an occurrence in the cement market where the retail price is showing a slump. A quintal of cement is sold for below 650 Br, a significant drop from the 900 Br registered at the end of last month after the government loosened the price cap on the industry.

The price adjustment is also hoped to ease financial burdens on factories, which complain that profit margins have fallen.

“Every input we use, including our energy costs, which account for over 60pc of our expenses, ballooned, especially in the last two years,” said Fitsum N. Demissie, CEO of East African Trading House and board member of the Ethiopian Cement Manufacturers Association, representing National Cement.