Trade officials from regional states are in an uproar over the worsening cement shortage sending retail prices through the roof. They have lodged complaints with federal authorities.

Cement supply shortages have become common over the past couple of years, but the situation has worsened last month. The stocks of retailers and wholesalers across the country are depleted following the introduction by federal trade authorities of a directive a month ago, which sought to end the distribution of cement through agents.

Gebremeskel Chala, minister of Trade & Regional Integration (MoTRI), followed the directive with a price cap. He told factories to sell a quintal of cement to designated distributors between 770 Br and 870 Br. Although the measure was meant to stabilise the market, retail prices have surged to 2,000 Br a quintal, more than triple what manufacturers offer at their gates. Federal officials, however, stand by their decision.

“The cement supply chain used to be long and complex,” said Hassen Mohammed, a state minister for Trade. “This had a profound impact on the retail price.”

Five regional administrations submitted formal complaints to the Ministry last week. They blame the shortages on cement factories not supplying distributors based on quotas set by the Ministry. Intermediaries in the Amhara Regional State trading cement informally sell a quintal of cement for over 2,000 Br, disclosed Abeje Ayehu, deputy head of the region’s Trade Bureau.

His office is among those that lodged their complaints to federal authorities. The regional administrators expected more than 61,000tns of cement supply monthly from seven plants.

“Designated distributors are not getting cement based on the quota,” said Abeje.

There are 25 selected distributors in the region that source cement directly from the factories. Amhara state administrators expect Mugher Cement Factory to supply close to 16,000tns a month.

Established in 1984, the state-owned Mugher Cement is one of the seven factories expected to supply cement to the region’s distributors. The plant can produce one million tonnes annually. However, Gezahegn Dechasa, general manager, disclosed that Mugher utilises a fifth of its capacity.

“We’re doing our best to supply more cement under the circumstances,” said Gezahegn.

The situation is similar elsewhere.

The monthly quota assigned by the Trade Ministry to the Dire Dawa City Administration stands at 6,500tns, to be supplied by Pioneer and National cement factories. An assessment conducted last year revealed that the quota matches only half of the demand, according to Abdi Muktar, deputy head of the Dire Dawa Trade Bureau. The Bureau has established a committee to monitor the marketing activities of cement factories.

“The shortage worsened because factories are not supplying based on the quota,” Abdi told Fortune. “We’ve apprehended 10 trucks carrying cement leaving the city illegally.”

Addis Abeba’s cement markets, too, are feeling the burn.

Henok Eshete, a taxi driver, was roaming around Megenagna last week to buy cement to refurbish his two-bedroom house. But cement was nowhere to be seen in the capital’s retail hub. After a half day of the search, he found brokers willing to sell for 1,850 Br a quintal.

“It’s beyond my budget,” Henok told Fortune.