Nigerian billionaire entrepreneur, Mr Aliko Dangote, says he expects revenues from Dangote Group to grow more than $30 billion next year from about $25 billion projected in 2025 amid current trade uncertainties.
He made this disclosure on Thursday at an investment conference in Lagos, acknowledging the positive impact President Donald Trump’s tariffs would have on his urea exports to the US because major competitor Algeria had been slapped with a higher levy.
President Trump imposed a 14 per cent tariff on imports from Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil exporter, as part of widespread trade measures introduced last month, later paused for 90 days.
Comparatively, Algeria was subjected to a 30 per cent reciprocal tariff on its exports to the United States under President Trump’s Liberation Day tariff policy announced on April 2, 2025.
“But when I checked who we are really competing with, we are competing with Algeria. So, luckily for us Algeria were slapped with 30 per cent,” said Mr Dangote, adding that, “It actually makes us a bit comfortable.”
The tariff measure was part of a broader strategy to address perceived unfair trade practices by imposing higher tariffs on countries without formal trade agreements with the US.
President Trump’s tariffs spared oil and gas exports, allowing the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to continue selling its products to the US without disruption. This exemption provides a significant cushion for Mr Dangote’s broader business strategy, especially as the refinery ramps up output.
Mr Dangote also said that Dangote Fertiliser, which began commercial operations in 2022, shipped 37 per cent of its 3 million metric tonnes of urea production to the US.
Beyond the US, Dangote also exports urea to other key markets such as Brazil, which has historically relied on Russian fertilizer supplies, as well as India and Mexico.
Mr Dangote added that he expects his cement company to become Africa’s largest exporter next year, overtaking Egypt in the process.
“We are at about 53 million tons,” Mr Dangote said in reference to the production capacity of his plants. “By next year, we will be at 62 million tons of cement. We will be number one.”