Displaying items by tag: Middle East and Africa

Kenya: Cement sales fell by 8% year-on-year to 8.47Mt in 2024, the sharpest annual decline in over two decades, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The fall reflects budgetary cuts on public infrastructure projects and a broader slowdown in construction activity, which contracted by 3% in the third quarter of 2024, following a 2% drop in the second quarter.

KNBS said in its report “The contraction was reflected by trends in key industry indicators. For instance, cement consumption declined by 10% to 2.2Mt in the third quarter of 2024, from 2.4Mt in the same quarter of 2023.”

According to the Nation newspaper, the slowdown follows delays in the government’s payments to contractors and the stalling of infrastructure projects. The government indicated that most of the stalled projects will begin to receive funding in the next few days and weeks.

Ghana: Cement dealers have raised concerns over a growing shortage of brands including SOL Cement, Empire Cement and Dzata Cement, according to Citi Newsroom. Dealers have cited a scarcity of clinker and rising port charges behind recent supply disruptions and price increases. One cement retailer, Augustine Aduful, said that they paid for cement but have been left out of pocket for two weeks. Ghacem, in particular, has reportedly been facing a shortage, with customers having to switch to alternatives like Diamond Cement.

Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry CEO Emmanuel Cherry said that Ghana cannot continue to rely solely on clinker in cement production and that the country should begin to look for viable alternatives.

Another retailer, Isaac Frimpong, said “The clinker shortage is being caused by overseas supply issues. Even the recent price hikes are tied to external factors. We hope that with government intervention, the situation will stabilise.”

Saudi Arabia: Sinoma Overseas has marked the construction of the preheater tower as part of a relocation and upgrade of Yamama Cement’s production line. The previously 10,000t/day line now has a capacity of 12,500t/day. The placement of the final structural element on the preheater tower was attended by representatives from both companies.

Sinoma posted on social media that the company had “overcom[e] significant engineering and logistical challenges – from dismantling and moving massive equipment to integrating new technology.”

With the preheater tower now complete, the company looks ahead to the plant’s commissioning and final delivery.

Tunisia: Votorantim Cimentos has completed the full sale of its assets in Tunisia to China-based Sinoma Cement. Votorantim Cimentos operates the Ciments de Jbel Oust plant in Tunisia. The transaction follows the fulfilment of precedent conditions, including regulatory approvals in China, Tunisia and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Delivery of the assets and financial settlement were also concluded.

Saudi Arabia: Arabian Cement Company said in its 2024 annual report that work is underway to increase the production capacity of its fifth production line by the fourth quarter of 2025. The company also said it is progressing on a project to connect its Rabigh plant to the Saudi Electricity Company grid under the liquid fuel displacement programme.

It forecast that cement demand will rise in 2025 due to government and Public Investment Fund-backed development projects in the Makkah region. The sector is reportedly operating at 63% capacity due to oversupply and weak demand, according to Zawya News, although an interest rate cut in September 2024 led to a revival of real estate projects.

Libya: The Municipal Council of Zliten called on Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Aldabaiba and the Ministry of Defence to urgently intervene in a dispute involving armed groups gathered outside the Arab Union Construction Company cement plant. The council demanded the withdrawal of forces from outside the city and urged peaceful solutions and negotiations. The intervention request follows an arrest order issued by the Attorney General for several individuals accused of halting operations at the plant.

Kenya: Cement consumption rose by 27% year-on-year in January 2025, up by 4% in December 2024, according to provisional data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Cement production also grew by 21% year-on-year in January following more than a year of contraction. In the 12 months to January 2025, cement consumption fell by 5% year-on-year and cement production dropped by 6% year-on-year.

Uganda: Tororo Cement has condemned a counterfeit cement racket after authorities seized over 700 bags of fake product in Osukuru, Tororo District. Five suspects were arrested following the discovery of two warehouses storing the material.

Senior manager of logistics and utilities David Omaido warned that such activities damage the company’s reputation, and urged consumers to buy only from authorised dealers.

He advised buyers to verify authenticity using Uganda Bureau of Standards stamps and by checking that packaging is in 50kg bags. The company is particularly concerned about the origin of the counterfeit packaging.

Nigeria: The Senate has directed the Bureau of Public Procurement to halt the planned sale of Lafarge Africa to Chinese producer Huaxin Cement on ‘national security and economic sovereignty grounds’, according to the This Day newspaper. Concerns have reportedly been raised that the deal could lead to capital flight, job losses and reduced regulatory oversight over a sector vital to national development.

Holcim, which owns an 84% stake in Lafarge Africa, initially announced the company’s sale to Huaxin Cement for US$1bn in December 2024. The transaction is set to complete in 2025, pending regulatory approvals.

Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu said “We cannot afford to wake up one day and realise that our cement industry, one of the backbones of our economy, is entirely in foreign hands. We must ensure that strategic assets like Lafarge Africa remain in the hands of those who have the country’s best interests at heart.”

Senator Olamilekan Adeola said “The company is about to be divested and the transaction has been shrouded in secrecy. What the motion is simply asking for is that we want this transaction to be as transparent as possible. By the time the eventual sale of this company is done, we will be fully satisfied that Nigeria’s economy will be protected.”

Iraq: Gebr. Pfeiffer has won an order to supply a vertical roller mill for the Al Amir cement plant in Najaf. The MVR 5000 R-4 raw mill with SLS 4500 VR classifier will grind 500t/hr of cement raw material from a fineness of 10% R to 0.090mm, drying it from 12% to below 0.5% moisture. The mill will be delivered via China-based contractor Sinoma Suzhou. Commissioning is scheduled for the second half of 2026.