Cement News tagged under: East Africa

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Turbulent times for Africa?

17 September 2019, Published under Cement News

For the cement sector, turmoil has probably come to a head in many parts of Africa. Cement demand has slowed or fallen back into the red in many African countries, while overcapacity and low utilisation rates are characteristic of many markets. However, much of this turmoil is self-inflicted. Tony Hadley provides an uncompromising assessment of the industry on the continent and examines the root causes of business failure in some key markets. By Tony Hadley African Advisory. A perfect...

LafargeHolcim lines up Middle East Africa assets for US$8bn divestment

08 February 2019, Published under Cement News

Just a week after closing the US$1.75bn divestment of Holcim Indonesia, LafargeHolcim is understood to be contemplating the sale of its Middle East-Africa business unit, according to Bloomberg. The sale of the group's Middle East-Africa unit would take divestments well beyond the group's announced target of CHF2bn (US$2bn). In 2018 LafargeHolcim's Middle East-Africa operations are forecast to contribute 13.5 per cent (CHF816m) of group EBITDA and 11.2 per cent (CHF3090m) of group revenue ...

National Cement continues to plot a successful course in east Africa

28 January 2019, Published under Cement News

This week, China's Sinoma Energy Conservation announced that it has a contract with National Cement Co Ltd (Devki Group) to build a new waste-heat power project at its Athi River cement plant. The leading east African cement producer will provide a KES25.5bn (US$251m) investment for Sinoma to provide power for its Athi cement plant as well as a power unit for its raw steel processing factory in Mombasa. 

 "The total installed capacity of the two projects is 53.5MW… The project (over a pe...

Gunmen kill Dangote Cement's country manager in Ethiopia

17 May 2018, Published under Cement News

Deep Kamara, Dangote Cement’s country manager in Ethiopia, was killed by gunmen on Wednesday while returning to Addis Ababa from the facility which he managed in the country, according to Reuters. Reports suggest that Mr Kamara’s secretary and driver were also shot in the incident which occurred in the unstable Oromiya region. "The company’s director died following an attack by unknown gunmen that took place while he was returning to Addis Ababa from the factory alongside two company emp...

Shortage of cement could continue in Rwanda

09 April 2018, Published under Cement News

A shortage of cement at distribution points is expected to continue in Rwanda, while retail prices will remain high until regional manufacturers resume production at the end of April 2018, according to The East African. However, a prolonged cement shortage is a distinct possibility as domestic manufacturers claim large infrastructure and real estate projects will place pressure on their capacity. The expected increase in demand and maintenance works at Cimerwa’s facility could lead to the...

Kenyan consumption contracts in 5M17

15 August 2017, Published under Cement News

Cement demand in Kenya over the Jan-May 2017 period fell to 2.5Mt compared to 2.5Mt a year earlier, according to the latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). Manufacturers also cut back on production in the first half of the year, from 3.31Mt to 3.18Mt. NIC Securities attributes the decline to a slowdown in private sector credit growth following discussions with management of cement firms.

EAPCC announces 10% price cut

20 July 2017, Published under Cement News

East African Portland Cement Co (EAPCC) has announced a 10 per cent reduction on the ex-factory price of its Blue Triangle Cement. The Kenyan cement producer attributed the price cut to improved processes following the implementation of a strategic turnaround plan it embarked on last year, according to a report in The Star national newspaper. “Over the last 10 months, we have been re-engineering our processes from production to distribution, sales and marketing,” EAPCC Managing Director...

PPC revenue growth supported by rest of Africa cement business

08 June 2017, Published under Cement News

PPC reported that group revenues for the year ending March 2017 rose by five per cent to ZAR9641m (US$750m). The growth was supported by the rest of Africa cement business where revenues rose by nine per cent, and the aggregates and ready-mix segment which saw revenues increase by 23 per cent. Group EBITDA decreased by 13 per cent to ZAR2065m while the EBITDA margin achieved was 21.4 per cent (March 2016: 26 per cent). The decline was mainly attributable to the southern Africa cement seg...

Sika opens new production facility in Tanzania

07 June 2017, Published under Cement News

Sika is setting up production in Tanzania and is opening a concrete admixtures factory. Sika is the first company to manufacture these products locally. Plans are already being made to add a mortar products manufacturing line. The company's aim in establishing a local supply chain in the East African state, which has a population of 50m, is to benefit from planned investments in infrastructure.   Paul Schuler, Regional Manager EMEA and designated CEO: "By establishing a new concrete admixtu...

Tanga confident on improving market conditions

09 May 2017, Published under Cement News

Tanga Cement has said it is upbeat that the market challenges faced last year are coming to an end thanks to a growing domestic economy and the launch of mega-infrastructure projects. The company's Board Chairman, Lawrence Masha, told the 'Daily News'  at the sidelines of the company’s AGM that it is  optimistic that cement sales would rebound after a slowdown caused by intense competition. Last year, revenue dropped by 20 per cent in 2016 to to TZS166.9bn (US$74.6m) due to heightene...