Ghana cement makers introduce temporary demurrage surcharge as port delays trigger costs

Ghana's cement manufacturers have introduced a temporary clinker demurrage surcharge after a dramatic surge in vessel waiting times at the country's main port pushed industrywide demurrage costs to as much as $50 million in the first eight months of 2026, raising concerns about the stability of cement supply to one of West Africa's largest construction markets.

The Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG) announced a 12 cedis-per-bag surcharge, citing congestion at Tema Port that stretched vessel waiting times from an average of seven days in January to between 30 and 40 days by August.

The surcharge, which comprises 10 cedis before tax and 2 cedis in applicable taxes and levies, is designed to offset extraordinary costs that manufacturers say are outside normal operating parameters. COCMAG made it explicit that the measure should not be interpreted as a broader increase in cement prices, framing it instead as a direct pass-through of port-related costs.

"The newly introduced surcharge should not be misconstrued as a general increase in cement prices," it said in a statement. "Rather, it is a temporary intervention aimed at offsetting extraordinary costs resulting directly from port congestion and extended vessel waiting periods."

Supply chain pressures

The scale of the demurrage burden is significant. Individual vessels are reportedly incurring charges ranging from $800,000 to as high as $1 million per call, according to COCMAG, with estimated industrywide costs reaching between $45 million and $50 million for the January-to-August period alone.

A key structural constraint is limiting the sector's ability to absorb the backlog. Currently, only three main berths are available for clinker discharge at Tema Port, with Berths 10 and 11 remaining inaccessible to cement importers and manufacturers, according to COCMAG. The restricted berthing capacity has amplified the impact of any increase in vessel arrivals or delays, leaving the sector with little operational flexibility to manage surges in import demand.

COCMAG Chairman Frederic Albrecht and CEO George Dawson-Ahmoah warned of broader supply chain consequences if the situation is not resolved. COCMAG said that if congestion persists, shipment cycles could extend to nearly three months, a scenario that would materially disrupt cement availability across Ghana's construction sector. Clinker, the primary intermediate product in cement manufacturing, is largely imported and requires reliable port throughput to maintain continuous production.

The forward-looking risk is particularly acute given Ghana's infrastructure development pipeline. Any sustained disruption to clinker supply would likely constrain cement output at a time when construction activity remains a key driver of economic activity in the country.

COCMAG said it will monitor the situation monthly, with a formal review of the surcharge scheduled for January 2027. The Chamber said its ultimate objective is to eliminate the surcharge once port congestion normalizes, framing the measure as a contingency response rather than a structural repricing of the product.