Ethiopia-Eritrea border re-opening fuels cement trade

Following the normalisation of Ethiopia-Eritrea relations and the reopening of the border between the two countries, cement trade is flourishing after two decades of stand-off.

As of Wednesday 12 October, 4000-5000 quintals (400-500t) a day have been transported from Adigrat, some 900km north of Addis Abeba, to the border towns of Senafe, Adi Keyih and Dekemhare in Eritrea, according to business owners in Adigrat.

Business activities in these areas has revived,” Angesom told Fortune. A minimum of 20 trucks carrying cement is leaving from Adigrat to Eritrea daily.”

A quintal of cement, manufactured by Messebo Cement Factory, is sold for ETB200 (US$7.21). The Eritreans are buying the commodities in birr exchanged from Eritrean nakfa and US dollars, reports Addis Fortune.