Dangote Cement Plc has announced a robust financial performance for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, with profit after tax climbing to N321.1 billion. This represents a substantial 53.5 percent year-on-year increase from the N209.2 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
The strong bottom-line results were propelled by higher sales volumes, improved pricing strategies, and enhanced operational efficiencies as the company scaled its production capacity and deepened its export penetration across various markets. Revenue for the quarter rose by 20.4 percent to N1.198 trillion, up from N994.7 billion in Q1 2025.
Gross profit saw a significant increase to N749.3 billion from N587.4 billion, while operating profit climbed to N506.2 billion from N397.4 billion. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) also grew by 22.8 percent to N567.1 billion, reflecting effective cost management and efficiency gains, particularly in energy utilization.
The company's performance was underpinned by a ramp-up in capacity and stronger production output across its plants. Total installed capacity now stands at 55 million tonnes per annum, with group volumes increasing by 13.8 percent to 7.5 million tonnes during the first quarter.
Arvind Pathak, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement, stated that the performance demonstrates the company's ability to convert operational scale into profitability. He noted that expansion projects and efficiency initiatives continue to strengthen margins and support long-term growth.
Despite cost pressures, including a rise in the production cost of sales to N448.7 billion driven by higher fuel, power, and haulage expenses, disciplined cost control and an improved energy mix helped sustain profitability. EBITDA margin in Nigerian operations improved to 61 percent.
Export volumes also played a crucial role, with shipments from Nigeria rising by 71.6 percent, reinforcing Dangote Cement's position as a regional supplier. Outside Nigeria, pan-African operations saw volumes rise by 19.5 percent to 2.9 million tonnes, contributing N369.96 billion in revenue and N33.4 billion in operating profit for the region.
