South Africa imported 141,063 tons of cement during April 2026, up 23.3% compared to April 2025, while year-to-date imports reached 474,041 tons, an increase of 8.4%. However, average import values fell sharply, declining from R802/t to R687/t on a year-to-date basis, indicating continued pricing pressure from imported product. Vietnam remained the dominant supplier, accounting for 91% of all imports, while Durban handled just over 70% of volumes entering the country.
The most notable trend remains the rapid increase in imports through Cape Town. Volumes increased by 82.9% during the first four months of 2026, lifting Cape Town’s share of national imports from roughly 11% to 18%. This suggests that the Western Cape continues to emerge as a key destination for imported cement and remains one of the provinces most exposed to import competition.
