East African Cement Manufacturers Eyeing Market in Rwanda

Posted on : Wednesday, 18th April 2018

East Africa’s biggest cement companies have collectively turned their attention towards the market in Rwanda.  The situation in Rwanda is demanding for more cement after local manufacturers have struggled of late to meet the local demand due to the lack of available raw materials.

Rwanda acquires 46 percent of its cement through imports with that number expected to rise substantially in the coming days and months. This has caused a stir among cement manufacturers in East Africa with Tanzania’s Dangote Cement, Lake Cement, Tanga Cement and Hima Cement from Uganda front-runners in the scuffle.

Annette Karenzi, the director-general of industries and entrepreneurship development in Rwanda’s ministry of trade and industry revealed that the national demand for cement has reached 50,000 thousand tones with only a little over 50 percent of this demand met by local manufacturer Cimerwa Cement.

“At least 23,000 tonnes are imported, while Cimerwa produces 27,000 tonnes,” Ms Karenzi said.

Cimerwa has an annual installed capacity of 600,000 tonnes but statistics reveal that the company on produce only between 60 and 70 percent of this capacity.  This is also a factor that contributes to the current shortage of cement in the nation.

The Kigali Cement Company, a subsidiary of Cimerwa, owned by ARM Cement has also suspended its operations due the lack of availability of raw materials which have compounded the situation.