Dangote Cement Grows Exports by 62.3% as H1 Profit Climbs to ₦638.5bn

Dangote Cement Grows Exports by 62.3% as H1 Profit Climbs to ₦638.5bn

Dangote Cement Plc recorded a 62.3 percent increase in cement and clinker exports from Nigeria to 1.1 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, while profit after tax rose by 22.7 percent to ₦638.5 billion, underscoring the company's strong operational performance and expanding footprint across West Africa.

 Dangote Cement Plc has reported a strong financial and operational performance for the first half of 2026, with cement and clinker exports from Nigeria rising by 62.3 percent to 1.1 million tonnes and profit after tax increasing by 22.7 percent to ₦638.5 billion.

The company said it shipped 20 clinker vessels from Nigeria to Ghana, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire during the six-month period, reflecting increasing demand for its products across West Africa and reinforcing Nigeria's role as a regional manufacturing and export hub.

According to the company's unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2026, Group revenue grew by 21.4 percent to ₦2.514 trillion, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 25.8 percent to ₦1.188 trillion, representing an EBITDA margin of 47.3 percent.

Earnings per share rose by 24.3 percent to ₦38.22, while the company closed the period with a net cash position of ₦215.2 billion.

Group sales volumes increased by 11.8 percent to 14.9 million tonnes, driven by sustained demand across key markets. Nigeria remained the company's strongest earnings base, with domestic EBITDA rising by 28.4 percent to ₦1.086 trillion and margins improving to 60.1 percent.

Dangote Cement also reported improvements in operational efficiency through lower cash production costs in Nigeria, supported by a more favourable energy mix. During the period, the company commissioned the Okpella mobile refuelling unit and deployed an additional 300 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks in Tanzania to enhance logistics efficiency and reduce operating costs.

Commenting on the results, the Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement, Arvind Pathak, attributed the company's performance to sustained demand, higher sales volumes and disciplined execution.

"Our performance in the first half of 2026 reflects the strong momentum we have continued to build since the start of the year. The business delivered another solid set of results, supported by higher sales volumes, disciplined execution, and sustained demand across our key markets," Pathak said.

He noted that the company's revenue growth, stronger EBITDA and net cash balance of ₦215.2 billion demonstrated the resilience of its business model and its ability to fund future expansion while maintaining disciplined capital allocation.

Pathak added that Dangote Cement's export strategy continued to gain traction, with increased shipments to regional markets reflecting growing demand for its products across West Africa.

On expansion plans, he disclosed that construction and commissioning activities at the company's new six-million-tonnes-per-annum (6Mta) Itori cement plant were at an advanced stage, with completion expected before the end of 2026.

According to him, the Itori plant will strengthen Dangote Cement's production footprint, increase export capacity and support its long-term target of achieving 80Mta installed production capacity by 2030.

"Looking ahead, market fundamentals remain favourable and our strategic investments continue to strengthen the business. Combined with our unwavering focus on operational excellence and cost discipline, these factors position us well to sustain our growth trajectory and continue creating lasting value for our shareholders," he said.

Dangote Cement is Africa's largest cement producer with an installed production capacity of 55.0Mta across the continent. In Nigeria, the company operates an integrated quarry-to-customer production model with a combined capacity of 35.25Mta across its Obajana, Ibese, Gboko and Okpella plants.