Cement protagonists to strike truce?

The raging cement war may temporarily come to a halt as a deal has been struck between the so-called "Big Four" cement manufacturers and Taiwan Cement Corp. (TCC) which has been accused of dumping.

The deal, which was agreed upon only last month, indicates that TCC will stop importing cement from Taiwan for local distribution while the Big Four—— La Farge, Blue Circle, Cemex and Holderbank—— will also stop exporting cement to Taiwan.

TCC also agreed to source its cement needs from Cemex’s Apo plant.

Also under the deal, TCC’s current monthly volume requirement of 110,000 metric tons will be reduced to 68,000 metric tons (MT) this month; 60,000 MT in September; 59,000 MT in October and down to 51,000 MT in November, all of which will be supplied by Apo Cement.

TCC agreed to market the cement under the TCC brand with a marking "Made in the Philippines by Apo."

TCC has already issued a memorandum dated July 13, 2001 signed by its president Rodney Lu informing its customers that the plant will stop importing cement from Taiwan and instead distribute cement from Apo. —— Marianne Go