China’s Huaxin Cement To Challenge Dangote, BUA After Purchasing Lafarge Africa

In a strategic move that could alter Nigeria’s cement industry, Chinese cement giant Huaxin Cement has entered the Nigerian market by acquiring an 83.81% stake in Lafarge Africa. In a deal valued at $1 billion, Huaxin will become Nigeria’s third-largest cement producer, well placed to compete against local giants Dangote Cement and BUA Cement. Currently, Dangote Cement dominates the market with a share of over 69% of sales, with BUA in a distant second with about 16% and Lafarge in third spot with 15.5%.

Will Huaxin be content to maintain the status quo, or is this the first stage of a strategy to take as much of a market that has been predicted to hit $3.89 billion by 2028? This will depend on Huaxin’s appetite to grow Lafarge’s market share and financial muscle. Lafarge Africa’s previous owner, LafargeHolcim, is the world’s largest cement producer but appeared content to manage its footprint in Nigeria. Huaxin appears to have a different outlook. Its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021 – 2025) aims to quadruple its production capacity outside China to 16.5Mt/yr. 6.07Mt/yr-worth of this will come online in 2024 and 2025. The company says that its strategy partly reflects the slowing of its domestic market since 2022.

Huaxin’s financial strength is evident. In 2023, its revenue reached $4.73 billion, almost twice that of Dangote Cement ($2.65 billion) and significantly higher than BUA Cement’s $552 million in the same year. However, scale matters in a market like Nigeria. Dangote’s production capacity of 27.3 million metric tonnes in 2023, supported by its entrenched distribution network, gives it a commanding lead. Huaxin’s capacity, an impressive 131.37 million metric tonnes globally, is bolstered by its Lafarge acquisition. Still, the question remains: can this financial and operational muscle translate into dominance in a competitive landscape?

Beyond financial prowess, Huaxin’s strategy to gain market share might include upgrading Lafarge Africa’s plants and integrating sustainable production methods. The company’s focus on environmentally friendly solutions could carve out a niche in a market increasingly drawn to sustainability. With its cash reserve of $751.8 million in 2023 and its track record of funding overseas expansions, Huaxin appears well-positioned to make significant investments in Lafarge’s facilities. These upgrades could enhance efficiency, increase production, and appeal to large-scale buyers like road contractors prioritising durability and sustainability.

Huaxin may be looking beyond the demand for cement to construct buildings, etc. Minister of Works David Umahi recently announced that all federal roads would now be constructed using concrete, citing its durability and long-term cost-effectiveness, especially for high-traffic routes. Castles Lifestyle had previously pondered what this demand might mean for the supply capacity of the country’s current cement plants. Dangote Cement and BUA have been the beneficiaries of such road contracts so far, and Huaxin might be positioning for such contracts.

Does this mean a price war? With cement prices moving from ₦7,500 to ₦9,400 per bag this year, Nigerian consumers will hope that more competition will mean lower prices. However, that would take some years as the manufacturers build the capacity to exceed market requirements.

Last year, Dangote Cement signed a contract for a new cement plant with China Sinoma International Engineering to build a six million tons per annum cement (6mtpa) plant in Itori, Ewekoro local government area of Ogun State. Ewekoro holds historical significance for Lafarge’s parent body, which, in 1959, built Nigeria’s first cement company (West African Portland Cement) there. LafargeHolcim did not respond to this incursion on its ‘home turf’. Huaxin may have a different reaction. Whether Huaxin cannibalises Dangote’s market share or focuses on opportunities like road projects, its presence will likely reshape the industry. For now, one thing is certain: a shake-up is imminent, and consumers could be the ultimate winners.