Dangote Announces $700m Sugar Expansion to Strengthen Local Production

Dangote Group has unveiled a major expansion initiative worth over $700 million aimed at significantly boosting Nigeria’s local sugar production and ending the nation’s reliance on imported sugar.

Dangote Sugar Refinery, a key subsidiary of the conglomerate, plans to channel the investment into land development, equipment procurement, infrastructure upgrades, workforce training and community engagement. The goal is to create a fully integrated supply chain capable of producing enough raw sugar to meet domestic demand and support future manufacturing growth.

Speaking at the 2025 Lagos International Trade Fair, the company’s CEO, Ravindra Singhvi, said the new rollout aligns with Dangote’s deepened backward-integration strategy. He noted that the sugar products will be available in 100g, 250g, 500g and 1kg packs to improve accessibility for households and small businesses.

Fatima Aliko-Dangote, Group Executive Director of Commercial Operations, reiterated that the broader mission is to reinforce Nigeria’s industrial foundation and retain more value within the country. According to her, expanding local industries is one of the most effective ways to create jobs and support SMEs that depend on domestic manufacturing.

Represented by Funmi Sanni, Sales and Marketing Director at Dangote Cement, she connected the sugar expansion to the group’s ongoing investments in refining, fertilizer and petrochemical operations.

Dangote Sugar Refinery continues to hold its position as Nigeria’s largest sugar producer with an installed capacity of 1.44 million metric tonnes.

The company also recorded stronger financial performance in the first nine months of its 2025 fiscal year, with revenue rising to N626.24 billion from N484.42 billion in the same period of the previous year. Losses dropped sharply as well, decreasing from N184.4 billion in 2024 to N10.59 billion.

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