Qatar cement shortage boost black market

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ILLEGAL SALES: A shortage of cement in Qatar has resulted in a surge in black market deals. (Getty Images)

A shortage of cement in Qatar is leading to a surge in the black market of the building material.

Bags of 50kg cement are being sold illegally for as much as QR60, despite the government fixing the price at QR12.5 per bag, the Gulf Times reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper said some suppliers of the building material claimed there was no availability of cement or had quit dealing in it altogether.

A contractor told the newspaper: “I was told by a shop in Najma there was no cement. I kept insisting and the guy made some calls and then offered me 15 bags at the rate of QR45.”

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