A landmark industrial project took shape in southern Malawi, as China’s Huaxin Cement Group, in partnership with Portland Cement Malawi Limited, officially commissioned a US$100 million integrated cement plant in Balaka – about 215 km south of Lilongwe.
Malawi’s Finance Minister, Joseph Mwanamvekha, described the opening as a “significant milestone” in the country’s push toward industrialisation and economic transformation under the national development framework known as Malawi 2063 Agenda. The plant is expected to play a central role in upgrading the nation’s manufacturing capacity.
At full capacity, the factory will produce around 800,000 tonnes of cement annually, substantially reducing Malawi’s reliance on imported clinker and cement. This local production is projected to save roughly US$50 million per year in foreign-exchange expenditures, while generating about US$15 million in export earnings, according to China’s Ambassador to Malawi, Lu Xu.
The new plant also promises to reinvigorate Malawi’s construction and infrastructure sectors, offering businesses and government projects a more stable and locally sourced cement supply. For a country attempting to scale up housing, roads, and public works, this means quicker timelines and reduced dependency on imports.
Crucially, the project is expected to create hundreds of jobs and stimulate economic activity in surrounding communities. Local sourcing of raw materials and labour – a principle emphasised by Huaxin, is intended to support long-term industrial linkages and encourage the growth of auxiliary industries such as aggregates, transport, and logistics.
This development reinforces the deepening economic partnership between Malawi and China. Over the years, China has supported numerous infrastructure, mining, and industrial projects across Malawi – underscoring its role as a trusted foreign investor committed to long-term development. The commissioning of the Balaka cement plant stands out as one of the largest single investments by a Chinese firm in the country’s modern industrial history.
As Malawi pushes forward with its industrialisation strategy, the Huaxin plant could mark the beginning of a new chapter: one where local manufacture underpins development, jobs, and economic resilience, all grounded in mutually beneficial China-Malawi cooperation.
