Short answer: in Lagos, a cubic metre of C25 ready-mix concrete costs about ₦115,000 to produce and deliver, and 89% of that is raw materials. A 60 m³/h batching plant running at its rated capacity, 8 hours a day and 30 days a month, produces 14,400 m³ a month. Sold at ₦150,000 per m³ before VAT, that volume leaves about ₦246 million (≈US$183,000) a month on a cautious calculation. Cement and diesel prices move fast in Nigeria, so the tables below let you redo the calculation with your own numbers.
The basis of our calculation
| Assumption | 60 m³/h plant | 120 m³/h plant |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly output used | 60 m³ (rated capacity) | 120 m³ (rated capacity) |
| Working hours per day | 8 h (one shift) | 8 h (one shift) |
| Working days per month | 30 | 30 |
| Concrete produced and sold per day | 480 m³ | 960 m³ |
| Concrete produced and sold per month | 14,400 m³ | 28,800 m³ |
| 9 m³ truck mixers needed | 14 | 27 |
Every table in this article uses these assumptions: the plant runs at its rated capacity, 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, and all the concrete is sold. Because of Lagos traffic we count only 4 trips a day per truck mixer (loading, drive, pour, return), or 36 m³ per truck; that gives the number of trucks. If you work longer hours or two shifts, output and profit rise in the same proportion; if you sell less, they fall in the same proportion.
What a cubic metre of C25 costs
| Item | Quantity per m³ | Price used | Cost per m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk cement | 350 kg | ₦215,000 per tonne | ₦75,300 |
| Sharp sand | 0.45 m³ | ₦10,600 per m³ | ₦4,800 |
| Granite chippings (¾" and ½") | 0.8 m³ | ₦24,000 per m³ delivered | ₦19,200 |
| Admixture and water | ≈1.5 kg and 180 litres | — | ₦3,500 |
| Raw materials | ₦102,700 | ||
| Plant staff and drivers (incl. benefits) | ₦500 / ₦400 | ||
| Delivery: diesel, maintenance and depreciation of truck mixers | ₦10,700 / ₦10,600 | ||
| Generator diesel, loader and plant maintenance | ₦1,100 / ₦1,100 | ||
| Cost of one delivered m³ (60 / 120 m³/h) | ₦115,000 / ₦114,800 |
Prices are before VAT. Dealers sell a 50 kg bag of cement for about ₦12,600–13,100, which is over ₦250,000 a tonne; a batching plant buys in bulk, delivered by tanker into its silos, and we use ₦215,000 a tonne. Diesel is counted at the Lagos depot price of about ₦1,800 a litre. Because grid power is unreliable, we assume the plant runs on its own generator. Staff is 9 people for the 60 m³/h plant and 12 for the 120 m³/h plant (plant operator, loader driver, lab technician, mechanic, helpers, sales, security), plus one driver per truck mixer, all at ₦250,000 a month. Truck mixers are depreciated over five years.
Your profit at your selling price
Published Lagos prices for C25 are around ₦120,000–180,000 per m³ before VAT, and one supplier's list shows ₦164,000; prices in Abuja are often 10–15% higher because aggregates travel further. To stay cautious we add 5% material waste, 30% higher wages and 10% sundry costs: the cautious cost becomes ₦132,400 per m³ for the 60 m³/h plant and ₦132,100 for the 120 m³/h plant. We also deduct monthly fixed costs (land, administration, insurance, laboratory) of US$6,000 and US$9,000.
| Plant | Selling price, delivered, before VAT | Profit per m³ | Margin | Profit per month (14,400 / 28,800 m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 m³/h | ₦150,000 | ₦17,600 | 12% | ₦246 million (≈US$183,000) |
| 60 m³/h | ₦160,000 | ₦27,600 | 17% | ₦390 million (≈US$289,000) |
| 120 m³/h | ₦150,000 | ₦17,900 | 12% | ₦504 million (≈US$374,000) |
| 120 m³/h | ₦160,000 | ₦27,900 | 17% | ₦792 million (≈US$588,000) |
Break-even price, fixed costs included: about ₦132,900 per m³ for the 60 m³/h plant and ₦132,500 for the 120 m³/h plant. Below that price the plant loses money; above it, every cubic metre sold earns. For your own calculation: take the price contractors in your city pay you before VAT, subtract the cautious cost, multiply by your monthly volume and subtract your fixed costs. Pumping is usually charged separately (around ₦8,500 per m³ in Lagos) and is not included here.
Cement and diesel decide your margin
Cement is about 73% of raw material cost. Every ₦10,000 per tonne you save on cement takes ₦3,500 off each cubic metre of C25. Plants that sign bulk supply contracts with a cement producer, and that keep two silos of 60–100 tonnes so they can buy when the price is right, hold a lasting advantage. Diesel is the second lever: truck mixers stuck in traffic burn fuel without delivering, so a plant close to its customers needs fewer trucks and spends less per cubic metre. Where you can get a reliable grid or gas supply, running the plant on it instead of a generator lowers the cost further.
Which plant for which volume?
- Around 60 m³/h: RAPID 60 TWN (compact plant with a 1 m³ twin-shaft mixer) or MOBIL MIX 60 TWN if you need to move it from site to site. Ballpark: US$90,000–110,000 depending on configuration, excluding silos and shipping.
- Around 120 m³/h: RAPID 120 and RAPID 135 (compact), PROMIX 120 (stationary) or MOBIL MIX 135 (mobile). Ballpark: US$120,000–165,000 depending on configuration, excluding silos and shipping.
- Concrete for your own projects: MOBIL MIX 30, a 30 m³/h site plant.
Truck mixers, the concrete pump and the wheel loader are bought separately. Many plants start with part of the fleet rented or subcontracted and buy trucks once contracts are signed. To compare offers, read our guide to concrete batching plant prices and the 10 points to check with a manufacturer. Our PROMIX 135 stationary plant installed in Tripoli, Libya shows a complete installation, and our concrete batching plant page for Nigeria brings together our models and terms for Nigeria.
What this calculation leaves out
Land, foundations and civil works; the concrete pump; permits; financing, taxes and depreciation of the plant itself; slow months in the rainy season; and late payments from customers, which are common on public projects.
Thinking about blocks as well? See our cost-per-block guide for Nigeria.
Sources
Capacities and equipment: İBAR MAKİNA product sheets. Ready-mix prices: Lagos supplier price list (ome.construction), BEPCO and Ownkey Nigeria build cost index. Cement: dealer price lists (Buildocrat) and Dangote Cement results. Sand and granite: Buildocrat and Nigeria Building Cost. Diesel: MEMAN depot prices. Exchange rate: NFEM, ₦1,347 per US$. Prices are the ones we found while preparing this article; they change, so check your own.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to produce a cubic metre of ready-mix concrete in Nigeria?
For C25 with 350 kg of cement: about ₦102,700 of raw materials and ₦115,000 delivered, with a 60 m³/h plant at full capacity. Cement is by far the largest item.
How much does a 60 m³/h batching plant earn in Nigeria?
At rated capacity, 8 hours a day and 30 days a month, it produces 14,400 m³. Sold at ₦150,000 per m³ before VAT, the cautious profit is about ₦246 million a month; at ₦160,000, about ₦390 million. Below about ₦132,900 per m³ it makes nothing.
How many truck mixers do I need?
With 9 m³ truck mixers doing 4 trips a day: 14 trucks for a 60 m³/h plant and 27 for a 120 m³/h plant. The closer your customers, the fewer you need.
Does İBAR MAKİNA install the plant in Nigeria?
Yes. We build our plants in our factory in Çerkezköy, Turkey, with more than 45 years of experience and machines delivered to more than 30 countries. Installation and operator training are included in the price, the warranty is 2 years and spare parts ship the same day.
Send us on WhatsApp your city, the volume of concrete you are aiming for and your selling price: we will suggest a plant and redo this calculation with your numbers.
