West China Cement (02233) saw its shares climb more than 4% in late trading. As of the time of writing, the stock was up 4.49%, trading at HKD 3.26 with a turnover of HKD 108 million.
Reports indicate that West China Cement is seeking to acquire the long-established South African cement producer AfriSam through its wholly-owned subsidiary.
Tianfeng Securities pointed out that AfriSam currently boasts an annual cement production capacity of approximately 4.5 million tons, positioning it as a leading cement enterprise in the South African market. With the potential acquisition moving forward, West China Cement is expected to gradually establish a leading position in the African cement industry, and the securities firm continues to recommend this growth stock in the overseas expansion chain.
Guotai Haitong Securities released a research report stating that in 2024, West China Cement's gross profit per ton from its overseas business was as high as RMB 288 per ton, significantly exceeding the RMB 42 per ton from its domestic operations. The company is firmly advancing its strategy of expanding into high-margin overseas markets.
In June 2025, the company announced a plan to sell its cement assets in Xinjiang for RMB 1.65 billion. This move is expected to help alleviate debt pressure and support the progress of its overseas expansion initiatives, which include new construction in Uganda, acquisitions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, production lines in Zimbabwe, northern Mozambique production lines, and longer-term projects in Angola.