Africa is emerging as the world’s largest centre for new cement production capacity, with the continent accounting for 42% of global cement capacity currently under construction, according to a Reuters analysis published on 24 September 2026. (Reuters)
The expansion comes as African economies invest in housing, transport infrastructure, industrial facilities and other construction-intensive developments. Africa currently has about 441 million tonnes of operating cement capacity, with another 43.3 million tonnes under construction and 23 million tonnes planned. If all planned and ongoing capacity is delivered, the continent’s total capacity could exceed 507 million tonnes. (Reuters)
Key Facts & Metrics
42% of global cement capacity under construction is located in Africa.
Africa currently has approximately 441 million tonnes of operating cement capacity.
43.3 million tonnes of additional capacity is under construction.
A further 23 million tonnes is planned.
Egypt and Nigeria are among the continent’s leading markets for existing and planned cement capacity.
Cement production is highly energy-intensive, requiring significant quantities of fuel and electricity. (Reuters)
What It Means for Nigeria’s Construction Market
The expansion points to sustained investment in Africa’s construction and infrastructure pipeline, while increasing the importance of energy availability, industrial logistics, and distribution networks to cement producers.
For Nigerian contractors and developers, additional production capacity could strengthen material availability over time. However, the delivered cost of cement will continue to depend not only on production capacity but also on transportation, fuel, warehousing and distribution infrastructure.
Nomarc Market Signal
Africa’s cement expansion is creating a parallel infrastructure requirement: the infrastructure needed to produce and distribute construction materials at scale.
As cement capacity expands, energy supply, road networks, ports, rail connections and industrial logistics will become increasingly important to the competitiveness of producers and the delivered cost of construction materials.
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