Pakistan cement dispatches jump 12.5% in Feb on export surge

Cement dispatches increased 12.53% in February, reaching 4.199 million tons compared with 3.732 million tons in the same month last fiscal year, according to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).

Local cement dispatches during February this year totaled 3.467 million tons, up 8.35% from 3.2 million tons in February 2025. Export dispatches surged 37.72% to 732,333 tons from 531,736 tons a year earlier.

North-based cement mills dispatched 2.856 million tons in February this year, marking a 7.66% increase from 2.653 million tons in February 2025. South-based mills recorded a 24.50% rise in dispatches to 1.34 million tons, compared with 1.079 million tons in the same month last year.

In domestic markets, North-based mills dispatched 2.856 million tons in February, up 9.72% from 2.603 million tons a year earlier. South-based mills supplied 611,239 tons to local markets, a modest 2.35% increase from 597,177 tons in February 2025.

There were no exports from North-based mills during February 2026. Exports from South-based mills climbed 51.95% to 732,333 tons from 481,956 tons in the corresponding month last year.

During the first eight months of the current fiscal year (July-February), total cement dispatches, including domestic and exports, rose 10.86% to 34.798 million tons from 31.388 million tons in the same period last fiscal year.

Domestic dispatches during this period increased 11.93% to 28.503 million tons from 25.465 million tons. Export dispatches grew 6.27% to 6.295 million tons, compared with 5.924 million tons in the corresponding period last year.

North-based mills dispatched 23.745 million tons to domestic markets during the first eight months of the fiscal year, a 13.15% increase from 20.985 million tons in July-February FY25. However, exports from the North declined 27.07% to 803,306 tons from 1.101 million tons a year earlier. Total dispatches by North-based mills increased 11.15% to 24.548 million tons from 22.086 million tons.

South-based mills dispatched 4.758 million tons domestically during July-February FY26, up 6.21% from 4.480 million tons in the same period last fiscal year. Exports from the South rose 13.89% to 5.491 million tons from 4.822 million tons. Total dispatches by South-based mills increased 10.19% to 10.250 million tons from 9.302 million tons.

An APCMA spokesman urged the government to include concessions for the cement industry in the upcoming budget to boost off-take and ensure affordable prices for consumers. He said such measures would help the sector utilize idle capacity and achieve economies of scale.