Dangote Cement is set to commission its new 3 million tonnes per annum (Mta) grinding plant in Côte d’Ivoire by the third quarter of 2025, as the company intensifies its pan-African expansion drive. The move is expected to solidify its continental leadership and enhance export capabilities across West and Central Africa.
Chief Executive Arvind Pathak, in a regulatory filing to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, hailed the company’s growing export profile, reporting an 18.2% year-on-year increase in clinker shipments from Nigeria. “We recorded 18 successful clinker shipments to Ghana and Cameroon,” Pathak noted. “This reflects not only the strength of our pan-African footprint but also our sustained commitment to regional trade and industrial self-sufficiency.”
Pathak underscored the company’s focus on long-term value creation, pointing to ongoing cost optimisation and environmentally conscious logistics upgrades. “We began the phased delivery of 1,600 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks,” he said. “This will cut our logistics costs and reduce our carbon footprint.”
The company’s financial performance for the second quarter underscores its operational resilience. Group EBITDA surged by 41.8% to ₦944.9 billion, while profit after tax soared by 174.1%. “These results speak to disciplined execution, robust cost leadership, and the strategic investments we’ve made over the years,” Pathak added.
Dangote Cement, Africa’s largest cement producer, commands a total installed capacity of 52 Mtpa across the continent. In Nigeria alone, its production capacity stands at 35.25 Mtpa, with its flagship Obajana plant in Kogi State housing five production lines totaling 16.25 Mtpa—making it the largest single-site cement plant in Africa. The company also operates the Ibese plant in Ogun (12Mta), Gboko in Benue (4Mta), and Okpella in Edo (3Mta).
Beyond Nigeria, the company has built a formidable network with facilities in Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. Through its aggressive investment strategy, Dangote Cement has helped Nigeria transition from a net importer to a regional exporter of cement and clinker.
With regional demand for cement rising and infrastructure spending across Africa accelerating, the company’s new Côte d’Ivoire facility is seen as a key node in its cross-border growth ambitions.
