Venezuela to import cement from Cuba while local supply falls

Venezuela to import cement from Cuba while local supply falls
There are fewer housing units for sale and for rent

Economy
The Venezuelan government considers that the construction sector is a
strategic area. Therefore, it has used this argument to nationalize
inputs and control the process to build houses. Both actions have had
some effects: the production of materials has declined and there are
fewer housing units for sale and for rent.

As a result of the rain emergency, Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez
said that the process to build houses will go faster. He explained that
a total of 6,900 tons of cement from Cuba will be imported, although the
government controls 90 percent of the cement market. The reasons to
purchase this input are a lower production capacity and the fact that
many plants have been shut down for repair works.

Construction industry sources said that the supply of cement has been
ensured only by Cementos Venezuela (former Cemex), which has a 45
percent market share.

http://english.eluniversal.com/2010/12/21/en_eco_esp_venezuela-to-import_21A4883139.shtml