Dangote Cement profit jumps 86% to ₦209bn on strong domestic performance

Dangote Cement Plc reported an 86% year-on-year increase in group profit to ₦209.2bn for the first quarter of 2025, buoyed by robust sales in its Nigerian operations despite challenges in several Pan-African markets.

Revenue rose 22% to ₦994.7bn in the three months ended March 31, from ₦817.4bn in the same period last year. Nigerian operations contributed ₦696bn—up 54%—while Pan-African sales dropped 15% to ₦322.7bn. Net profit for the quarter surged from ₦112.7bn in Q1 2024, supported by a 56% jump in operating profit and a tripling of finance income.

Earnings per share nearly doubled to ₦12.29 from ₦6.68 a year earlier, while group EBITDA climbed to ₦461.6bn from ₦309.5bn. “The domestic market remains the company’s earnings anchor,” said analysts, noting Nigeria’s 70% contribution to total revenue and ₦230.7bn in segment profit.

Foreign exchange volatility continued to weigh on operations outside Nigeria, with the Pan-African region posting a ₦110bn loss. However, a ₦33.4bn increase in finance income—up from ₦11.4bn—helped cushion the impact of higher finance costs.

Total assets stood at ₦6.45tn, up slightly from year-end, while cash and cash equivalents fell to ₦179.9bn despite strong cash flows from operations, reflecting heavy debt repayments and capital investments.