Dangote Cement Plc has reported rise in sales to 6.76 million t. This is 29.4per cent higher than in the same period in 2012. Profit before tax has gone up by 52.8per cent y/y from N70.8 billion in 1H12 to N107.7 billion in 1H13. Gross profit and operating profit also increased by 43.8per cent to N132.1 billion and by 45.4per cent to N111.1 billion, respectively. The market share has remained at about 62per cent across the first half of 2013, and pricing has remained steady across all operations. The strong growth was achieved by additional output from the Ibese plant, opened in the first quarter of 2012, and higher output from Obajana. The company recorded strong rate of growth despite the fact that Gboko plant was closed during January.