Dangote Cement Plc has secured an upgrade to its long-term credit rating from AA to AA+ following its strong financial performance in 2025.
DataPro announced the upgrade in a statement released on Tuesday, citing Dangote Cement’s resilient earnings, solid financial position and market leadership despite challenging economic conditions.
While affirming the cement manufacturer’s short-term rating of A1, the technology-driven credit rating agency said the ratings carry a Stable Outlook and remain valid until June 16, 2027.
It stated that the upgrade reflects Dangote Cement’s “sustained financial strength, resilient operating performance and leading market position within Nigeria and across Africa.”
The agency said its assessment followed a comprehensive review of the company’s capitalisation, earnings profile, liquidity, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and the sustainability of its financial performance over the medium to long term.
DataPro noted that Dangote Cement’s strong brand presence, dominant market share, healthy earnings, robust asset base and experienced management team continue to strengthen its ability to meet financial obligations despite prevailing macroeconomic and industry headwinds.
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The agency highlighted the company’s impressive 2025 financial performance as a major factor behind the rating upgrade.
It noted that Dangote Cement generated revenue of ₦4.31 trillion during the year, representing a 20 per cent increase from 2024, while profit before tax surged by 109 per cent to ₦1.53 trillion.
DataPro attributed the stronger profitability to robust revenue growth, improved operating efficiency, lower finance costs and a stronger capital structure.
“The Rating upgrade reflects Dangote Cement Plc’s sustained financial strength, resilient operating performance and leading market position within Nigeria and across Africa,” the statement said.
It added that the AA+ long-term rating denotes “Lower Risk,” indicating excellent financial strength, operating performance and business profile relative to its rating benchmarks.
The affirmed A1 short-term rating, according to the agency, reflects “Good Credit Quality and a satisfactory capacity for the timely payment of financial commitments.”
It stated that the rating has a maximum shelf life of 12 calendar months in line with international best practice and is intended as a reference for market participants.
DataPro also noted that the rating “is not an offer to trade in securities nor a substitute for the user’s judgement,” and added that the assessment is provided strictly for reference purposes.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X