Tanga Cement has announced a half year net loss and consequently declared no dividend to shareholders.
The firm, trading at Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) as Simba, made 14.6bn/- loss in H1 2017 from profit of 11.39bn/- in similar period last year.
Chairman Laurence Masha attributed the loss to oversupply of cement due to cheap imported clinker and increased competition in the market. It marks the first time Tanga Cement has made such a substantial loss.
But according to Masha while competition continues to soar, innovation will play a major role in their move to profitability.
“Market competition is expected to remain high and management is actively engaged in innovative sales initiatives to maximise sales volumes and prices to improve margins,” he said.
The cement industry in east Africa has seen increased competition leading to reduction of profit margins for regional firms. Dangote Cement, which has production factories in Ethiopia and Tanzania, sells its cement 20 to 40% cheaper than locally produced cement.
Other players had to follow suit by lowering prices of their products and begin sales promotion campaigns to survive in the market.
Another big player, is the Chinese controlled Sinoma and Hengya Cement (T) Ltd which will build a US$1billion cement manufacturing plant in the coastal city of Tanga to focus on exports.
About 70% of cement produced at the plant will be exported to local countries including Somalia, Kenya, Mozambique, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
That not withstanding observers believe that with upcoming mega projects Tanzania will increase cement consumption in the country.
