The African continent may not have the biggest manufacturing companies in the world like Apple, Volkswagen, and Toyota, but it is gradually becoming self- sufficient in different sectors.
The importance of manufacturers in every economy can never be overemphasized.
These manufacturers determine how much the economy would spend on imports, as well as how much it would make on exports. These manufactures are also responsible for the high or low prices of goods, as locally manufactured goods are expected to be cheaper than the imported ones.
Despite its abundant natural resources and manpower, the African continent relies a lot on imports. There is barely an African market where only goods manufactured in Africa are traded, and this does not exclude fast-moving consumer goods.
The future of Africa’s economy depends on self-sufficiency and exportation of goods; hence the need for more manufacturing companies.
Here, we take a look at the top ten manufacturing companies in Africa. These companies are responsible for a lot of quality and affordable locally manufactured products. Most of these top manufacturers also export their products outside the shores of Africa
10. Pioneer Foods Group
Cape Town, South Africa.
Industry: Food and Beverages
Established in 1997, Pioneer Foods Group is a subsidiary of PepsiCo, and one of the largest producers of food and beverage products in South Africa. Although Pioneer Foods Group mainly operates in South Africa, it exports foods and beverages to over 80 countries around the world. And at 21% of its operating profit, this company’s international business keeps growing. With its headquarters in Cape Town, Pioneer Foods Group operates world-class production facilities that have brought about some of the most loved food brands in South Africa, including Weet- Bix, Liqui-Fruit, Ceres, Sasko, Safari, Spekko, and White Star.
9. Roofings Group
Kampala, Uganda
Industry: Building Materials
Roofings Group was founded by Dr. Sikander Lalani, under the license of the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), and launched operations in 1994
The leading steel and plastic construction products manufacturer in East Africa, Roofings Group can produce about 72,000 metric tonnes of construction materials annually.
Roofings Group has its headquarters located 6 kilometers outside Kampala, the capital city of Uganda and in 2020, it added Roofings manufacturing limited in Kigali, Rwanda as its latest member. Roofings Group is currently responsible for most of the quality construction materials used in eastern and central Africa.
Other subsidiaries under Roofings Group include Roofings Limited, Roofings Rolling Mills, Roofings Polypipes, Roofings & Steel Ghana, Roofings Kenya Ltd, Roofings Factory Mbarara, Roofings Outlet Banda, and Roofings Outlet Jinja
- 8. LafargeHolcim Maroc
Casablanca, Morocco
Industry: Building Materials
LafargeHolcim Maroc, formerly known as Lafarge Cements SA, is a Moroccan company that deals in the production of construction materials. Based in Casablanca, the company’s products include cement, plaster, industrial lime, and aggregates. The biggest of its kind in Morocco, this company’s production plants are in Casablanca, Meknes, Safi, and Tetouan.
Its concrete production is done in Casablanca, Berrechid, Rabat, Sale, Tanger, Meknes and El Jadida. While its aggregate production is based in Casablanca, and its industrial lime is produced in Tetouan. LafargeHolcim Maroc also has a presence in Europe, North America South America, the Middle East, and Asia
- 7. BUA Group
Lagos State, Nigeria Industry: Cement, Sugar
BUA Group is a top food and construction conglomerate, owned by Nigerian billionaire Abdulsamad Rabiu. It was founded in 1988, as a Private Limited Liability Company that specialized in importing and marketing iron & steel, agricultural and industrial chemicals. As time passed, BUA Group ventured into manufacturing and is one of the top manufacturing companies in Africa.
Presently, the company’s acquisitions and business interests include, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN), Edo Cement, BUA Sugar, BUA Cement, BUA Oil Mills, BUA Flour Mills.
BUA Sugar has an ultramodern sugar refinery that produces 2,000 metric tonnes of sugar daily, and BUA Cement is the second largest cement manufacturing company in Nigeria; with 3 plants and subsidiaries in the country that produces a combined 2 million metric tonnes of cement. BUA Oil Mills in Lagos has two plants that produce 700 tonnes of oil daily
6. Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company
Anambra State, Nigeria
Industry: Automobiles
Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company is the first indigenous automobile manufacturer in Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the eastern part of the country and was founded by businessman Innocent Chukuwma, in 2007.
Interestingly, IVM as the company is commonly called- produces 70% of its raw materials locally, only importing engines and lights for their vehicles. As any company would, IVM is looking towards the future, with plans to build electric cars already unveiled. The main aim of IVM is to reduce the rate at which Nigerians and Africans in general, purchase new and fairly used cars made outside the African continent.
IVM produces cars made to withstand African roads and weather. Car brand made by IVM include Innoson G80, IVM G6C carrier pickup, IVM Caris, IVM Capa, Innoson UMU and Innoson FOX.
5. Tiger Brands Limited
Gauteng, South Africa
Industry: Food
Tiger Brands Limited is one of the top manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods in Africa. This South African manufacturing giant, is known to produce cereals, snacks, confectionery, condiments, baked food, canned foods, pasta, and processed meat. They also produce energy drinks, fruit drinks, and juices.
Through collaborations and expansion ideas, Tiger Brands Limited is present in over 22 African countries. Its subsidiaries including Haco in Kenya, and Chococam in Cameroon, have helped extend Tiger Brands’ products to other African markets.
Products from Tiger Brands Limited include Albany, Golden Cloud, King Korn, Mabela, Morvite, Ace Instant, Jungle Oats, Taystee Wheat, Tastic, Aunt Caroline, Surprise, Cresta, Fatti’s & Moni’s, KOO, and All Gold
4. Mohammad Enterprises Tanzania Limited (METL)
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Industry: Textile, Food
Mohammad Enterprises Tanzania Limited (METL) was founded in the 1970s by Gulamabbas Dewji, and it is currently being run by his son Mohammad Dewji, who is the richest man in Tanzania. METL is one of the biggest companies in Tanzania, as it employs over 24,000 people and contributes 3.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
METL is very diverse as they have over
25 companies across various sectors. These sectors include beverages, edible oils, soaps, agriculture and agro-processing, textile, energy and petroleum, financial services, infrastructure, and real estate. They also manufacture more than 200 different products in African, European, and Asian markets
3. Cevital Group
Algiers, Algeria
Industry: Food
Cevital is the largest privately-owned company in Algeria and was founded by Issad Rebrab in 1998. It is known to have the biggest sugar refinery in the world; a refinery that produces 2 million metric tonnes of sugar annually.
Referred to as the jewel of the Algerian economy, Cevital’s presence in the country has transformed it from an import-based economy to one that exports to different countries around the world. Among Cevital’s clients are big names in the food industry like Coca-Cola, Kraft Food, and Danone.
This manufacturing company employs over 18,000 Algerians. It also has 26 subsidiaries in 3 continents and boasts an annual revenue of USD 4 billion
2. Dangote Group
Lagos, Nigeria Industry: Cement, Food
Dangote Group was founded in 1981 by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and it is one of the top manufacturing companies on the continent. Dangote Group is one of the most diversified companies in Africa, but it is mostly known for Dangote Cement PLC, its cement company.
Dangote Cement PLC is the largest cement manufacturer in Africa and has 3 manufacturing plants in Nigeria: Obajana Cement Plant in Kogi State, Gboko Cement Plant in Benue State, and Ibese plant in Ogun State. It also has subsidiaries in South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Senegal.
Dangote Group employs over 30,000 staff and has a projected annual revenue of USD 12 billion for 2021.
1. Aspen
Durban, South Africa
Industry: Pharmaceuticals
With its headquarters in South Africa, Aspen is Africa’s largest pharmaceutical company. Founded over 160 years ago, Aspen has a reputation for manufacturing top-quality and affordable medicines that have improved the health of many patients across the world.
Aspen has 23 manufacturing facilities at its 15 manufacturing sites. It is also well known globally as it has71 offices in over 50 countries, and its drugs are supplied to more than 150 countries in the world. This pharmaceutical company was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in 1998 and employs approximately 9,800 workers.
