In 2018 clinker imports into Côte d’Ivoire edged up to 3.1Mt, from 3.03Mt in the previous year, making them the country’s largest import volume for the second-consecutive year, ahead of petroleum imports, acccording to the country’s Customs Department.

The value of clinker imports advanced 9.7 per cent to XOF94.01bn (US$162.3m) when compared with XOF85.68bn in 2017.

The maximum price of a 50kg bag of cement has been fixed by the country’s government at XOF4500, although shops in the capital Abidjan have been reported to sell a bag of cement for XOF5000.