The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has banned all export and re-export of cement and other construction materials from Kuwait. However, it has allowed individual citizens to import construction materials for personal use. The ban is part of the measures undertaken to cut down the increase in building material prices. The Kuwait News Agency had reported that cement prices rose after the resurgence of the coronavirus outbreak in India suspended Indian imports. Kuwait?? cement production capacity is 9.0Mt/yr, while 2020 consumption was 6.0Mt.
The ministry subsidises building materials such as cement and concrete. The ministry had paid $45m towards such subsidies in May 2021. To keep track of the ??nlawful??price rises in the cement market, the ministry will continue to monitor the cement market and cement production.