Dangote Industries is planning to acquire its own vessels to transport products from Nigeria to markets across West and Central Africa as shipping constraints and high overland transport costs hamper regional trade.
Sada Ladan-Baki, head of international trade export at Dangote Cement, said the group was moving ahead with plans to secure vessels after experiencing difficulties obtaining shipping capacity. She cited an instance in which the company was unable to find a vessel for a 1000t shipment from Nigeria to Ghana.
Road transport provides an alternative but exposes exports to additional taxes while transiting countries including Benin and Togo, increasing costs and reducing the competitiveness of Nigerian cement in regional markets.
Acquiring vessels could enable Dangote to strengthen control over its logistics while supporting the group's wider expansion across African markets. The move comes as maritime transport assumes greater importance across Dangote Industries, including growing seaborne exports from its Lagos oil refinery.
