Bamburi launches low-cost cement bid to grow market share

Bamburi Cement has launched ‘Bamburi Fundi,’ a low-cost cement, in a  move aimed at growing its market share while lower the cost of construction for its consumers.

“The newest product will meet the emerging needs of customers in having affordable cement in construction. The launch is driven by clear demand for masonry-only cement,” said Managing Director Seddiq Hassani.

Bamburi Fundi 50-kilogramme bag will sell at about Sh540 in Nairobi, which is lower than the Sh560 and Sh610 paid for Bamburi Tembo or Bamburi Nguvu.

Unlike Bamburi Tembo or Bamburi Nguvu which are used for structural frame in multi-stored buildings and pillars, Bamburi Fundi will be used to build one story building as well as used for block laying, repair works as well as internal and external plastering.

The new brand is projected to boost Bamburi’s earnings at a time when cement consumption has dropped and stiff competition has lowered prices with Bamburi registering a marginal increase of to Sh18.66 billion in the half-year sales to June 2019 grew.

Mr. Hassani associated the high debt in the country that has led to key government projects like SGR and Mombasa-Nairobi highway frozen or scaled down.

Bamburi cement products include Nguvu, Multipurpose, Supaset, Tembo, Powermax, Powercrete and Roadcem and faces stiff competition from privately-owned Savannah Cement and National Cement.