Dangote Launch Intensifies Competition in Ivorian Cement Market
TLDR
- Dangote Cement, controlled by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, plans to launch operations in Côte d’Ivoire by the end of 2025
- It is entering a market dominated by Lafarge Holcim, Cim Ivoire, and Cimaf, ready to counter the Nigerian industrial giant
- The new Attingué grinding plant near Abidjan will have a 3 million-tonne capacity, raising the country’s total installed capacity to about 19 million tonnes
Dangote Cement, controlled by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, plans to launch operations in Côte d’Ivoire by the end of 2025, entering a market dominated by Lafarge Holcim, Cim Ivoire, and Cimaf. The new Attingué grinding plant near Abidjan will have a 3 million-tonne capacity, raising the country’s total installed capacity to about 19 million tonnes against annual consumption of roughly 7 million tonnes.
Industry capacity utilisation currently averages around 45%, as existing players face production and marketing challenges. Prices are regulated, limiting the likelihood of a price war, but Dangote’s investment of about $250 million and pan-African logistics expertise could allow it to capture market share through quality and distribution reach.
Major incumbents are already responding: Lafarge Holcim is investing over €6 million in new storage capacity, while Cim Ivoire, part of Burkina Faso’s Cim Metal Group, continues to expand regionally. Other competitors include the Indian-owned Diamond Cement, BigCim of the Atlantic Group, and Morocco’s Cimaf.
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Key Takeaways
The Ivorian cement market is expanding at 6–7% annually, supported by government infrastructure projects and plans to build 25,000 housing units to address an 800,000-home deficit. However, oversupply risk looms as utilisation remains low and more entrants, including a Chinese group and a local consortium, are eyeing the market. Dangote’s entry raises strategic questions: whether it will align with existing trade policies or leverage its logistics to redistribute cement nationally at competitive rates. Either approach could pressure incumbents to adapt operationally and commercially. The “cement war” in Côte d’Ivoire is likely to intensify, with market dynamics shaped by capacity utilisation, regulatory pricing, and infrastructure demand.
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