New Cement Price: Dangote, Lafarge, BUA Announce Massive Revenue in 2024

• The increase in cement price has helped the top cement manufacturers in Nigeria to more revenue
• The cement manufacturers all have a similar challenge of rising operational costs, no thanks to diesel prices, the fall of the naira
• Abdul Samad Rabiu BUA, Dangote Cement and Lafarge are the leading cement companies in Nigeria

Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere has over a decade of business journalism experience with in-depth knowledge of the Nigerian economy, stocks, and general market trends.

Nigeria's three top cement manufacturers have reported a combined N3.62 trillion in revenue in the first nine months of 2024 (January to September).

The amount represents a 69.4% increase from N2.13 trillion combined revenue reported by the companies in the same period of 2023.

The figures were analysed from the cement companies' financial statements obtained from the NGX.

Price hikes primarily drive the surge in sales revenue.

Legit.ng earlier reported that the cost of a 50kg bag of cement was between N8,000 and N10,000, up from approximately N4,000 it was priced when the year started.

Breakdown of cement makers

Here is a snapshot of the cement makers' financial performance in the first half of 2024.

Dangote Cement

Dangote Cement leads the table as its revenue increased from N2.56 trillion in the first nine months of 2024. This is a 69.54% increase from the N1.51 trillion reported as of September 2023. Profit for the period after tax payment to the government is N279.096 billion.

The significant drop in profit is due to production costs, which accounted for N1.23 trillion.

BUA Cement

BUA Cement reported a revenue increase to N583.40 billion for the first nine months of 2024, up from N335.86 billion in the same period of 2023.

However, the company's cost of sales, which amounted to N402.59 billion, affected its final profit after tax, reducing it to N48.97 billion.

This represents a decline compared to the N76.06 billion profit recorded during the same period in 2023.

Lafarge Africa

Lafarge's revenue grew by 65.87%, reaching N479.49 billion in the first nine months of 2024, up from N289.08 billion in the same period of 2023.

After taxes, the company posted a profit of N60.07 billion, an improvement from N39.30 billion in 2023.

The company's cost of sales amounted to N241.73 billion.

Expert speaks

A financial analyst, Abdulrauf Bello, explained that the challenge faced by cement manufacturers is operating costs.

He noted:

"It's the same story as with other manufacturing companies. Revenue growth is solid, but the operating costs are something else.

"Q3 performance was better than previous quarters, as the companies went all out with pricing."

Reps issue new directives to Dangote, others

Legit.ng earlier reported that the House of Representatives Joint Committee investigating the increase in cement prices in the country issued a directive to manufacturers, including Dangote Cement, BUA Cement, and Lafarge Africa.

Jonathan Gaza, the committee's chairman, said that the manufacturers must provide a detailed breakdown of production costs to justify the recent increase in bag cement prices.

The lawmakers noted that although cement prices in the North and some other states are high, residents in some states still pay high.