Cameroon’s demand for cement has risen dramatically despite increasing imports and local production, the ministry of Economy and Planning has disclosed.
According to the ministry, Cameroon records 8% increase in demand each year with a deficit estimated between 2.5 and 3 million tons.
In 2014, the local cement production was estimated at more than 1.3 million tons, while imports were around 1.2 million tons.
The aggregate supply (local production and imports) increased from 1.1 million ton in 2013 to 2.5 million tons in 2014 but was still unable to meet the national demand.
Despite the government’s bid to ban imports to boost domestic production, foreign producers continue to have significant market share in the country increasing from 561,190 tons in 2011 to almost 1.3 million tons in 2014.
The country’s cement production presently estimated at 3.6 million tpa, is provided by Cements of Cameroon (CIMENCAM, 1.6 million tons), a subsidiary of French group Lafarge, Nigeria’s Dangote (1.5 million tons) and Morocco CIMAF (500,000 tons).
