The Philippine government has decided not to impose a tax on imported cement. The import cement tax was first introduced on October 22, 2019 for a period of three years. In the first year, the tax rate is 250 Philippine pesos/ton (US $4.5/ton), which is subsequently reduced to 245 Philippine pesos/ton in the second year and 200 Philippine pesos/ton in the third year.
As the tax expires on October 21, 2022, the Philippine Tariff Commission began investigating whether it should be extended in February this year. Under rules set by the World Trade Organization, the tax can be extended for another seven years. The decision to
end the levy prompted Thai cement producers to consider the Philippines as a destination for their cement exports. According to The Nation Thailand, from January to September 2022, Thailand exported 1.67 million tons of cement, mainly to Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. Exports are rarely shipped to the Philippines due to taxation.
The Philippines imports about 4 million tons of cement a year mainly from Vietnam, but demand is expected to expand as the country's real estate market and economy continue to grow.
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