Cement prices may rise as manufacturers introduce GH¢12 demurrage surcharge

Cement makers in Ghana have imposed a temporary GH¢12 surcharge on each bag of cement to counteract soaring demurrage expenses brought on by severe congestion at the Tema Port, according to the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG). This decision came after an urgent gathering on Friday, August 28, 2026, due to heightened vessel wait times and corresponding cost hikes.

The surcharge is composed of GH¢10 before tax and GH¢2 in applicable taxes and levies. COCMAG reported that vessels that once took an average of seven days to wait at the Tema Port in January are now facing delays of 30 to over 40 days as of August. This prolonged bottleneck has led to industry-wide demurrage costs estimated between US$45 million and US$50 million in the first eight months of 2026, with individual vessels facing fees from US$800,000 to about US$1 million.

COCMAG emphasized that the GH¢12 fee is not a permanent price hike but a short-term fix to recoup extraordinary costs from port congestion. COCMAG highlighted the issue's worsening due to limited berth availability, with only three main berths accessible for clinker discharge, and the closure of Berths 10 and 11 for cement importers and manufacturers.

The Chamber's CEO, Frederic Albrecht, and President, Bishop Dr George Dawson-Ahmoah, warned that persistent congestion could jeopardize clinker supply to manufacturers, resulting in shipment cycles extending to almost three months, potentially impacting cement availability and the broader construction sector. COCMAG is currently consulting with the government and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to tackle the issue, seeking reduced vessel wait times, increased berth capacity, and the reopening of Berths 10 and 11 for clinker vessels.

The surcharge will remain in place until December 31, 2026, after which it will be reassessed in January 2027. COCMAG pledged to monitor the situation monthly and adjust or discontinue the charge once port congestion improves, with the ultimate aim of resolving port congestion and eliminating the extraordinary demurrage costs that prompted the temporary surcharge.