A booming construction market supported higher demand for clinker in West Africa in the first quarter, causing exports to the region to rise sharply.
Exports of clinker to West African countries increased by 21pc on the year to 3.53mn metric tonnes (t) between January and March, according to export data from the countries' trade partners compiled by Global Trade Tracker (GTT). Demand from key importers was underpinned by rising cement production capacity and sustained investment in construction.
Shipments to Ghana — typically the region's largest clinker importer — reached 1.36mn t, up by 30pc from a year earlier. Ghana accounted for about 39pc of clinker shipments into West Africa.
Demand growth in Ghana is closely tied to large public infrastructure programmes and rapidly expanding building and road construction. The Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry last year called for an increase in domestic production, highlighting structural supply shortages and reliance on clinker imports, confirming strong demand across the sector.
Dispatches to Ivory Coast, which held a 31pc share of the regional market, grew by 71pc on the year to 1.08mn t. Roads and residential construction in Abidjan, development of logistics infrastructure at the port and public works continued to support demand in the country.
Guinea was the fastest-growing importer, with shipments more than doubling on the year to 476,000t during the quarter. Exports to Mauritania rose by 63pc to 110,000t.
On the other hand, deliveries to several other markets declined over the period. Supplies to Togo and Liberia fell by 19pc and 27pc to 233,100t and 127,800t, respectively. Shipments to Mali, Burkina Faso and Benin dropped by 37pc, 82pc and 52pc to 60,000t, 44,200t and 38,000t, respectively, showing weaker demand in smaller and landlocked markets.
Clinker suppliers shift
On the supply side, stronger demand in West Africa coincided with significant changes in exporter dynamics.
China reemerged as a dominant clinker supplier, aided by competitive pricing, weaker domestic demand and surplus production capacity. China exported 1.42mn t of clinker to the region during the quarter, up from 117,500t a year earlier, GTT data show.
Vietnam also sharply increased shipments to 878,300t in the first quarter, up from 130,000t a year earlier. But firmer domestic and regional demand limited spot availability at the start of the year, while tight vessel availability and higher freight costs constrained flows to more distant markets, including West Africa.
Pakistan and Egypt raised exports by 75pc and 36pc on the year to 317,000t and 183,300t, respectively, maintaining their presence in the region.
In contrast, Turkey — another traditional supplier — cut exports by 73pc to 143,800t. The decline reflects stronger competition from lower priced Asian material, along with a shift towards alternative destinations and higher margin cement sales.
