The Brazilian cement giant Votorantim is a key player in the trade of sand resources from occupied Western Sahara.

On 19 March 2025, Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) tracked a shipment of sand as it arrived on the island of Tenerife, following its route from the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to the facilities of Votorantim at the industrial area at Cueva Bermeja. The cargo trucks traveled a distance of 2.5 kilometers to Prebetong Hormigones, a Votorantim subsidiary [or download] that is specialised in the production of ready-mix concrete. Below is a series of pictures that document the arrival of the sand and the transport to the factory. 

The sand originates from occupied Western Sahara, where the occupying power, Morocco, profits from exporting these resources in violation of international law. The controversial shipment was transported to the island aboard the dry cargo vessel Dura Bulk.

Votorantim Cimentos España, S.A. is a subsidiary of Votorantim Cimentos S.A., which is privately held under the large Brazilian group Votorantim S.A.

This is not the only place to which Votorantim receives conflict sand. WSRW has uncovered a series of other locations. 

• The same subsidiary Prebetong Hormigones also operates similar cement factories in Las Galletas, located on the south side of Tenerife and Realejos located on the north. Both these spots contained deposits of sand that is most likely from Western Sahara on its premises. This visual confirmation was made by WSRW in March 2025. Pictures of the two locations can be found below.
• Votorantim owns half the shares in the Spanish company Cementos Especiales de las Islas S.A. (CEISA), the most prominent user of Saharawi sand in the Canary Islands.
• Votorantim is a key shareholder in Cementos de Granadilla, which also purchases Saharawi sand.

All these details will be included in the first report on Morocco's sand exports, which WSRW is set to publish in April 2025, detailing the players involved on the Canary Islands. 

As of November 2024, reports suggested that Votorantim S.A. was considering listing Votorantim Cimentos S.A. on the New York Stock Exchange. Publicly traded companies engaged in long-term strategic imports of non-renewable resources from occupied Western Sahara are excluded from the portfolios of numerous international investors due to non-compliance with fundamental corporate responsibility principles.

WSRW wrote Votorantim on 4 March 2025, and did not receive any response. 

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