Pakistan cement sales rise 15% in October, but exports slump for second straight month

Pakistan’s cement sales rose sharply in October, driven by strong domestic demand, even as exports fell for the second consecutive month, the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has said.

Local cement sales increased 15.17% to 3.926 million tons in October, compared to 3.409 million tons in the same month last year. However, exports dropped 23.44%, falling from 1.081 million tons in October 2024 to just 0.827 million tons this year.

Total cement dispatches, including both domestic sales and exports, reached 4.754 million tons, up 5.87% from 4.490 million tons a year earlier.

North-based cement mills dispatched 3.525 million tons in October, up 15.03% from 3.064 million tons a year ago, while south-based mills saw a decline of 13.81%, shipping 1.23 million tons compared with 1.425 million tons last year.

Domestic sales by north-based mills grew 18.07% to 3.379 million tons, while south-based mills sold 547,661 tons locally—almost unchanged from 547,611 tons a year earlier.

Exports from the north fell 27.79%, from 202,858 tons in October 2024 to 146,478 tons this year. Southern mills’ exports also dropped 22.43%, to 680,903 tons from 877,833 tons a year earlier.

During the first four months of the current fiscal year, total cement dispatches rose 15.48% to 17.265 million tons, compared with 14.951 million tons during the same period last year. Domestic sales climbed 18.09% to 13.849 million tons, while exports increased a modest 5.97% to 3.416 million tons.

North-based mills reported total dispatches of 12.547 million tons from July to October, up 18.15% from 10.620 million tons last year. Domestic sales rose 18.46% to 11.739 million tons, and exports increased 13.84% to 808,344 tons.

In the south, mills dispatched 4.718 million tons during the four-month period, up 8.92% from 4.331 million tons last year. Domestic sales rose 16.07% to 2.110 million tons, while exports edged up 3.75% to 2.607 million tons.

An APCMA spokesperson said the industry was concerned about the recent fall in exports. “If this trend continues, it may dent our hopes of cement sector revival,” he said, urging the government to take export-friendly measures to help Pakistani cement remain competitive in international markets.