Displaying items by tag: Middle East and Africa

Pakistan: Since the closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on 11 October 2025, Afghan coal imports and cement exports have been halted, raising prices and prompting northern cement producers to shift to coal imports from South Africa, Indonesia and Mozambique. The move follows rising tensions between the two countries, with the cement sector among the most affected.

A manufacturer said Afghan coal is no longer available and ruled out using Iran as an alternative route due to the lack of banking channels and the impracticality of transporting coal. It said Afghanistan accounts for about 7% of Pakistan’s cement exports. Topline Securities reported that DG Khan Cement will continue using imported coal, while some producers have begun importing RB2 grade.

Insight Research has reported that Cherat Cement, Fauji Cement and Maple Leaf Cement are among the most exposed, with Afghan exports accounting for 9.8%, 5.8% and 3.1% of their sales, respectively.

Nigeria: The cement industry is set to reach a market value of US$1.44bn by the end of 2025, following a 9.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2020 and 2024, according to The Daily Times. The sector is projected to expand at a 7.9% CAGR between 2025 and 2029, with the market forecast to grow from US$1.33bn in 2024 to US$1.96bn by the end of 2029.

Growth is reportedly being driven by public infrastructure projects, urban housing and import substitution. Local producers have managed to maintain supplies, despite currency pressure, energy costs and logistics constraints. Firms are investing in alternative fuels, digital logistics and energy optimisation to manage volatility and support sustainability targets. However, long-term competitiveness will depend on regulatory reforms, energy stability and sustainable resource management.

Saudi Arabia: Al-Jouf Cement has signed a one-year, US$10m sales agreement with Towa Development to export cement to Syria and Palestine. The contract, effective from 30 November 2025 to 29 November 2026, reportedly represents over 14% of the producer’s total revenue based on its latest audited results. The company will supply all types of cement to Towa Development for export throughout the contract period.

Morocco: National cement demand grew by 12% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, supported by a strong construction sector. LafargeHolcim Maroc recorded consolidated revenue of US$255m for the quarter, also up by 12% from the third quarter of 2024, driven by higher sales volumes of cement and ready-mix concrete. Year-to-date revenue reached US$703m by the end of September 2025, reflecting a 12.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Yemen: Local authorities in Hadramout have inaugurated the country’s first solar facility at Arabian Yemen Cement’s cement plant, a US$11m project aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels and stabilising electricity supply. The facility integrates solar energy into cement production, with a system designed to manage the high loads required by crushers, mills and kilns, enabling uninterrupted operations. Officials described the project as a breakthrough for Yemen, which has struggled with energy shortages and rising fuel prices.

See the December issue of Global Cement magazine for more information on this story.

Syria: The General Company for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Cement and Building Materials (Omran) has held talks with an investment delegation from China’s BITEC on expanding technical, commercial and investment cooperation in the cement and construction materials sector. The meeting addressed upgrading production lines, improving operational efficiency and supporting national reconstruction.

Omran director general Mahmoud Fadila outlined the cement industry’s current state, future development plans, investment opportunities and sector challenges. The BITEC delegation reportedly expressed interest in expanding its presence in Syria and offering technology and industrial support to increase output.

Morocco: Ciments du Maroc has reported unconsolidated, unaudited sales of US$115m for the third quarter ending 30 September 2025, up by 6% year-on-year. Over the first nine months of 2025, revenue reached US$324m, an 8% year-on-year increase.

Nigeria: Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has presented a proposed US$604m budget for 2026, including plans to construct a US$102m state-owned cement plant.

Nwifuru said most of the spending would target infrastructure and economic growth projects. He attributed the rise from previous annual budgets, averaging about US$60m, to expanded fiscal space following the removal of the federal fuel subsidy.

The cement plant, conceived as a successor to the defunct NIGERCEM, will be financed through a US$102m self-repaying loan. “We agreed in council that this project will borrow money to fund itself from beginning to end. And this project will generate the same money to repay the loan,” Nwifuru said.

Geological assessments are currently underway to determine the most viable location with adequate limestone reserves.

Senegal: The country’s cement sector recorded a slowdown in August 2025, according to provisional figures from the Directorate of Forecasting and Economic Studies (Dpee), cited by the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (Ansd). Cement production fell by 14% month-on-month following several months of growth, reflecting weaker domestic and external demand. The decline was driven largely by a 24% drop in local sales, linked to a slowdown in construction activity and inventory adjustments. Exports also eased, falling by 8% from July 2025.

Despite the monthly setback, the sector maintained positive momentum year-on-year. Production in August 2025 was 10% higher than in August 2024, supported by strong export growth of 44% as regional demand remained firm. Local sales posted a modest increase of 0.9% compared to August 2025.

Mozambique: Mozambique and China will together invest US$333m to build two new cement plants, a jetty and hospital services in Nampula and Cabo Delgado. The investment is the result of four agreements signed in October 2025 at an investment conference in Xian in China’s Shaanxi province, where representatives from the two countries’ governments were present. The timescale of the work was not given. The conference served to strengthen economic cooperation with the Shaanxi provincial government and establish new partnerships and investments by Chinese companies. A delegation of 50 Mozambicans attended, led by the Minister of Economy, Basílio Muhate.