The domestic cement sales dropped by 1.94 per cent during the first eleven months of the current fiscal year.
According to the data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) on Tuesday, quantitatively, the volumes dropped from 35.1 million tons during July 2023-May 2024 to 34.4 million tons during July 2024-May 2025.
Exports, however, recorded an increase of 25.73pc, resulting in the sector witnessing a marginal 2.46pc growth during these eleven months.
In May 2025, cement dispatches increased by 8.57pc totalling 4.651 million tons against 4.284 million tons during the same month of the last fiscal year. Local cement dispatches during May 2025 were 3.662 million tons compared to 3.362 million tons in May 2024, showing an increase of 8.93pc. Exports also jumped by 7.27pc as the volumes increased from 0.922 million tons in May 2024 to 0.989 million tons in May 2025.
In May 2025, north-based cement mills dispatched 3.261 million tons of cement, showing an increase of 11.87pc % against 2.915 million tons in May 2024. South-based mills dispatched 1.39 million tons of cement during May 2025, which was 1.54pc more compared to 1.379 million tons during May 2024.
North-based cement mills dispatched 3.02 million tons of cement in domestic markets in May 2025, showing an increase of 9.71pc against 2.753 million tons in May 2024. South-based mills dispatched 641,894 tons of cement in local markets during May 2025, which was also 5.37pc more compared to 609,174 during May 2024.
Exports from north-based mills increased by 48.27pc as the quantities increased from 162,929 tons in May 2024 to 241,578 tons in May 2025. Exports from the south reduced by 1.53pc to 747,856 tons in May 2025 from 759,456 tons during the same month last year.
During the first eleven months of the current fiscal year, total cement dispatches (domestic and exports) were 42.764 million tons, that is 2.46pc more than 41.739 million tons during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
Domestic dispatches during this period were 34.419 million tons against 35.102 million tons during the same period last year, showing a reduction of 1.94pc. Exports showed a healthy increase by 25.73pc as the volumes jumped to 8.345 million tons during the first eleven months of the current fiscal year compared to 6.637 million tons during the same period of last fiscal year.
North-based mills dispatched 28.489 million tons of cement domestically during the first eleven months of the current fiscal year, showing a reduction of 1.53pc than 28.931 million tons during July 2023-May 2024. Exports from the north increased by 9.47pc to 1.476 million tons during July 2024-May 2025 compared with 1.348 million tons during the same period last year.
Total dispatches by north-based mills reduced by 1.04pc to 29.965 million tons during the first eleven months of the current financial year from 30.279 million tons during the same period of the last financial year.
Domestic dispatches by south-based mills during July 2024-May 2025 were 5.930 million tons, showing a reduction of 3.9pc over 6.171 million tons during the same period of the last fiscal year. Exports from the south increased by 29.88pc to 6.868 million tons during July 2024-May 2025 compared with 5.288 million tons during the same period last year.
Total dispatches by south-based mills increased by 11.69pc to 12.799 million tons during the first eleven months of the current financial year from 11.459 million tons during the same period of the last financial year.
APCMA spokesman emphasised that 1.94pc negative growth in local off-take, during the first eleven months of the current fiscal year, needs to be seriously examined. Domestic demand plays a key role in the utilisation of idle capacity of the sector as well as for the overall economic development of the country. The cement industry attracts many allied industries like steel, paint, electrical items etc etc., and an increase in construction activities shall uplift the economy as a whole. He was optimistic that the government would consider the industry’s plea in the upcoming budget and would announce measures to reduce duties and taxes on cement in order to make it affordable for the masses.
