CemNet Newsroom reported on 14th June 2018 the seizure on 2 June of 28,800 sacks of cement (1440t) imported into Mozambique from South Africa. The train hauling the wagons loaded with cement entered Mozambique at the Ressano Garcia border post, where customs officers are permanently on duty, and the...

On 30th May CemNet Newsroom reported that Uganda's government has back-tracked on initial plans to call in cement imports because local manufacturers have stabilised prices. Cement prices had risen sharply in April, following cement shortages. In April, the Kasese-based Hima Cement said it was recei...

As Whitehopleman counsels against debt financed expansion comes news on CemNet Newsroom on 29th May that Nigeria’s Ibeto Cement Co Ltd has signed a deal to receive US$850m in financing from Milost Global Inc. The chairman of the Ibeto Group has announced the company’s plan to grow beyond west Africa...

Lafarge Africa Plc plans to cut debt over the next two years as it seeks to boost profit before resuming expansion, according to the company’s chairman, reports CemNet Newsroom on 25th May 2018. Whitehopleman can see that that would be a good strategy for Lafarge Africa. Debt in US$ with interest ra...

CemNet Newsroom reported on 25th May 2018 that Zambian multi-millionaire entrepreneur Rajan Mahtani has lost ownership of Zambezi Portland Cement after the High Court of Zambia awarded full ownership of the company to the Ventriglia family of Italy. The outcome follows a decade-long court battle bet...

CemNet Newsroom reported on 17th May 2018 that Deep Kamara, Dangote Cement’s country manager in Ethiopia, was killed by gunmen on while returning to Addis Ababa from the factory. Reports suggest that Mr Kamara’s secretary and driver were also shot in the incident which occurred in the unstable Oromi...

CemNet Newsroom reported on 14th May 2018 that Ugandan cement producers will have to change their products to supply the new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project. Talks between SGR and cement manufacturers in Uganda only managed to convert Hima Cement (LafargeHolcim group) to change configuration to...

Also good to read on CemNet Newsroom on 25th April 2018 that Dangote Cement's revenue was up 16% to NGN242.1bn (US$672m) in the first quarter of 2018.  It seems that lost of Whitehopleman's former cement industry clients are doing well. Let's hope it prompts the need for some more benchmarking and p...

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 CemNet Newsroom on 9th April 2018. The maintenance of Cimerwa factory is expected to continue for...

On 9th April CemNet Newsroom informed us that PPC is in talks with China National Materials Co (Sinoma), about selling a stake in their DR Congo operation, PPC Barnet. There is an oversupply of cement in sub-Saharan Africa's largest country, and PPC is in talks with China National Materials Co (Sino...