LAGOS — Dangote Cement is considering buying its own ships after encountering difficulties securing vessels to transport cement from Nigeria to other West African countries.

The company’s head of international trade export, Sada Ladan-Baki, said the shortage had become serious enough for Dangote Cement to consider investing directly in maritime transport.

Speaking at a seminar on non-oil exports, Ladan-Baki said the company had struggled to find a vessel willing to transport just 1,000 metric tonnes of cement to Ghana.

The disclosure highlights one of the logistical challenges facing Nigerian manufacturers seeking to expand their presence in regional markets.

Nigeria has a large cement manufacturing industry, with companies producing substantially more cement than the domestic market consumes.

That excess capacity provides manufacturers with an opportunity to increase exports to neighbouring countries.

However, the availability and cost of transportation can determine whether those exports remain commercially viable.

Dangote Cement’s possible investment in its own shipping fleet could provide the company with greater control over that part of the supply chain.

Instead of waiting for third-party vessels to become available, the company could potentially deploy its own ships based on production schedules and export demand.

Such an arrangement could also make it easier to transport smaller consignments, which may not always attract international shipping operators.

The issue is particularly relevant for Nigeria’s trade with Ghana and other West African countries.

Although the countries are geographically close, transporting goods between them can be complicated by port charges, border procedures, road conditions, taxes and maritime constraints.

Ladan-Baki also highlighted taxation as another factor affecting the competitiveness of Nigerian cement.

According to him, Dangote Cement pays 18 per cent VAT on road shipments into Benin, Togo and Ivory Coast. The company argues that such costs make Nigerian cement less competitive in those markets.

The company is therefore dealing with challenges on several fronts as it attempts to increase exports.

The situation comes at a time when the Federal Government is encouraging manufacturers to reduce dependence on the domestic market and increase non-oil exports.

Manufactured exports are viewed as an important part of efforts to diversify Nigeria’s economy and generate foreign exchange outside the oil sector.

Cement is among the products that could contribute significantly to this strategy because Nigeria has developed a large production base.

Dangote Cement has already expanded its regional footprint, with the company previously reporting increased cement and clinker exports to African markets.

Its 2025 performance showed an 18.6 per cent increase in cement and clinker exports from Nigeria, including 34 shiploads of clinker sent to Cameroon and Ghana.

That export growth makes reliable maritime logistics increasingly important.

If Dangote eventually purchases vessels, the investment could strengthen the company’s ability to move cement and clinker around West Africa.

It could also encourage other large manufacturers to examine similar strategies if shipping availability continues to constrain exports.

For Nigeria, however, the broader issue goes beyond one company.

Manufacturers need efficient ports, competitive shipping services and predictable cross-border trade policies if the country is to increase its share of regional markets.

Dangote’s experience suggests that production capacity alone may not be enough to make Nigeria a major manufacturing export hub.