Displaying items by tag: despatches

Nigeria: Dangote Cement despatched 481,000t of clinker from Nigeria to its subsidiaries in Cameroon and Ghana in the first half of 2025, according to its latest activity report. While country-specific volumes were not disclosed, the company said that the supply ensured production continuity in these key markets and helped mitigate volatility in international clinker prices.

The group’s 1.5Mt/yr clinker grinding plant in Douala, Cameroon, sold 687,000t of cement in the first half of 2025, down by 3% from 710,000t in the same period of 2024. Dangote Cement attributed the decline to a temporary slowdown in demand.

Despite this, the outlook remains positive, supported by major infrastructure projects such as the Douala–Yaoundé highway and nationwide road rehabilitation. “These initiatives should maintain sustained cement demand in the medium term, despite uncertainties linked to the general elections scheduled for October 2025,” the report stated.

In Congo, however, sales stagnated at 446,000t in the first half of 2025 due to logistical challenges that limited exports, despite the resumption of public projects.

Looking ahead, Dangote Cement is moving forward with its long-delayed expansion in Cameroon. Bertrand Mbouck, General Manager of Dangote Cement Cameroon, confirmed that construction of a second plant had officially commenced after receiving government approval. The project, first announced in 2015 by Group CEO Aliko Dangote, was originally given a 20-month duration.

Argentina: Cement despatches in August 2025 totalled 0.89Mt, down by 0.4% year-on-year from August 2024, according to the AFCP. Volumes fell by 0.2% month-on-month.

However, cumulative despatches from January to August 2025 reached 6.59Mt, an 8% increase from 6.08Mt in the same period of 2024. Cement imports in August 2025 stood at 298t, taking the year-to-date total to 1597t.

Pakistan: Cement despatches, including exports, reached 3.85Mt in August 2025, a 12% year-on-year increase from 3.42Mt in August 2024, according to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). Local despatches grew by 10% to 3.10Mt from 28Mt, while exports rose by 22% to 0.75Mt from 0.6Mt previously.

In the first two months of the 2025–26 financial year, total despatches rose by 21% to 7.85Mt from 6.49Mt a year earlier. Domestic despatches grew by 14% to 6.09Mt, while exports climbed by 51% to 1.76Mt.

The APCMA noted that August growth was slower than in July 2025, when domestic despatches rose by 19% and exports rose by 84% year-on-year.

India: Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) loaded 2792 wagons carrying 0.18Mt of cement between April and July 2025, up by 71% year-on-year from 1628 wagons carrying 0.10Mt in the same period of 2024. For the first time, 84 wagons were despatched from NFR’s Lumding division to East Central Railway’s Sonpur division, with Narayanpur Anant and Tilrath each receiving 42 wagons from Star Cement.

In August 2025, NFR loaded 21 wagons from Star Cement Siding near Guwahati to Kishanganj and 21 wagons to Tilrath. In July 2025, NFR despatched 21 wagons to Tilrath, 42 to Narayanpur Anant, 42 to Kishanganj, 21 to PCM Concrete Sleeper Siding, 21 to Pristine Hindustan Infraprojects, and 20 wagons from New Guwahati–Dalmia Siding to Pristine Hindustan Infraprojects.

Peru: National cement despatches rose by 6% year-on-year to 1.1Mt in July 2025 and by 2% over the past 12 months, according to the Asociación de Productores de Cemento (ASOCEM). Cement production grew by 6.5% year-on-year to 0.97Mt, while clinker output fell by 22% year-on-year to 0.69Mt. Cement exports rose by 28% year-on-year to 13,300t, and clinker exports fell by 12% compared to July 2024 to 32,600t. Cement imports dropped by 63% compared to the previous corresponding period to 8000t, while clinker imports grew by 81% to 85,000t.

Saudi Arabia: Cement sales by the country’s 17 producers rose by 21% year-on-year to 13.1Mt in the second quarter of 2025, according to Al Yamama Cement. Local demand grew by 23% and accounted for 97% of total despatches, while exports fell by 16% to account for 3% of sales.

Al Yamama Cement led the market with 1.93Mt of local sales, followed by Saudi Cement with 1.36Mt, Qassim Cement with 1.14Mt and Yanbu Cement with 1.00Mt. Saudi Cement topped exports with 376,000t sold, ahead of Najran Cement with 50,000t and Eastern Province Cement at 5000t. Cement expert and CEO at consultancy firm A³&Co Amr Nader said “East Africa and Yemen have seen rising local production, such as capacity expansions in Kenya and the reactivation of plants in Ethiopia, alongside aggressive pricing from Turkiye and Iran.”

Clinker production grew by 13% year-on-year to 14.8Mt, with Saudi Cement producing 2.15Mt. Clinker inventories rose by 3% from 2024 to 134Mt by the end of June 2025, led by Southern Province Cement with 20.2Mt. Clinker exports increased by 39% year-on-year to 1.63Mt. Key markets included Bangladesh, Kenya, Benin, Ghana and Yemen.

Argentina: Cement consumption reached 0.88Mt in July 2025, a 10% increase compared to June 2025, although it remained 3% lower than July 2024, according to data from the Asociación de Fabricantes de Cemento Portland (AFCP). Despatches totalled 0.89Mt, down by 3% year-on-year but up by 9% month-on-month.

Exports fell to 3502t in July 2025 from 5250t in June 2025, while imports increased to 312t from 147t the previous month. Accumulated consumption for the first seven months of 2025 stood at 5.66Mt, up by 10% from the same period in 2024. Despatches for the first seven months of 2025 reached 5.70Mt, marking a 10% increase year-on-year.

Pakistan: Cement despatches rose by 30% year-on-year to 3.99Mt in July 2025 from 3.07Mt in July 2024, according to data from the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). Local sales grew by 18% to 2.98Mt during the period, while exports increased significantly, by 84%, to 1.01Mt from 0.54Mt previously.

An APCMA spokesperson said “The new fiscal year started on a positive note in spite of disturbing weather conditions in most parts of the country.” The APCMA expressed hope for continued momentum for the rest of 2025, supported by improved macroeconomic indicators.

Saudi Arabia: Domestic cement despatches rose by 13% year-on-year to 3.84Mt in June 2025, falling by 18% month-on-month due to seasonality impact, according to a report by Al Jazira Capital. Clinker inventories grew by 1% month-on-month to 45Mt.

Exports reached 0.71Mt, up by 17% year-on-year. Clinker production rose by 9% year-on-year to 4.9Mt, led by Yamama Cement, which increased its output by 28% or 0.15Mt, and Riyadh Cement, up by 93% or 0.17Mt. In the first half of 2025, domestic despatches rose by 14% to 25.7Mt, compared to 22.6Mt in the first half of 2024.

Pakistan: Local cement despatches are expected to fall by 28% month-on-month and 15% year-on-year to 2.63Mt in June 2025, primarily due to reduced working days over the Eid holidays. Daily average sales dropped to 88,000t from 118,000t in May 2025. Provisional data covering 22 days of the month showed 1.75Mt of cement sold, with full-month estimates at 2.5Mt, below the 11-month average of 3.06Mt.

Total sales for June 2025 are forecast at 3.54Mt, flat year-on-year but down 24% from May 2025. Sector capacity utilisation is projected at 52%, down from 68% in May 2025. For the 2024–25 fiscal year, total cement sales are expected to remain flat, with a 5% drop in local sales and a 30% rise in exports. Analysts anticipate recovery in the 2026 financial year, supported by improved macroeconomic conditions and lower interest rates.