Nigeria is strengthening its position as a key supplier of clinker, a critical raw material for cement production, to neighbouring West African markets, with Dangote Cement exporting nearly one million tons to Cameroon and Ghana in 2025, the company’s latest audited statements show.
The Nigerian region exported 970,100 tons of clinker to the two countries, representing a 6.9 percent increase from 2024. Cameroon and Ghana accounted for 69.3 percent of Nigeria’s total clinker exports, which reached 1.4 million tons, an 18.6 percent year-on-year rise, shipped across 34 vessels. While the company did not provide a detailed breakdown between the two markets, analysts note that Cameroon has traditionally been the larger importer of Nigerian clinker.
These exports helped sustain production at Dangote Cement’s Cameroonian subsidiary, where local demand has slowed. Domestic sales fell 14.1 percent in 2025, and output at the Douala plant, with a 1.5 million-ton annual capacity, declined to 1.2 million tons, down from 1.4 million tons in 2024. Dangote attributed the drop to “election-related uncertainties” following Cameroon’s presidential vote in October, which sparked unrest in several cities and disrupted commercial activity, particularly in Douala, the country’s economic hub.
Despite these challenges, the group sees improved prospects for the Cameroonian market in 2026. Ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Douala–Yaoundé highway, nationwide road and bridge initiatives, and wider regional development programs, are expected to drive cement demand in the short and medium term, the company said.
Dangote Cement has been operating in Cameroon since 2015, ending a 48-year monopoly held by Cimenteries du Cameroun, a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim Maroc Afrique. The entry of the Nigerian group helped diversify supply and introduced greater competition in the local cement market.
In addition to sustaining its current operations, Dangote is pursuing a regional expansion strategy across Africa. The company signed a US$1 billion contract in February 2026 with China’s Sinoma Engineering to expand production capacity in Cameroon and six other African countries. In Cameroon, the group is evaluating whether to expand the existing Douala plant or revive the long-delayed Nomayos cement project near Yaoundé, a plan that has been stalled for over a decade.
Industry analysts said the surge in clinker exports demonstrates Nigeria’s growing role as a regional supplier of construction inputs, providing a buffer against slowing domestic demand. By exporting large volumes to Cameroon and Ghana, Dangote is able to maintain production levels and strengthen cash flow while supporting the construction sector in neighbouring countries.
“The regional trade in clinker highlights Nigeria’s capacity to serve as a hub for West African infrastructure development,” said an independent analyst based in Lagos. “Even when local markets slow, exports allow companies like Dangote to stay operational and capitalize on cross-border demand.”
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The company’s expansion plans, including partnerships with international engineering firms, signal confidence in the long-term growth of regional construction markets, underpinned by urbanisation and major infrastructure projects across West and Central Africa.
As governments in the region continue to invest in roads, bridges, and industrial facilities, Dangote Cement’s strategy of leveraging both domestic production and regional exports positions the Nigerian group to remain a dominant player in Africa’s cement sector.
