Pakistan’s cement dispatches fall to lowest since April

Cement dispatches in July have dropped by 6.8%, totaling 3,010 thousand tons, according to the latest data from the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association.

The decline in cement dispatches — which are at their lowest level since April — has been attributed to the Muharram holidays and the rainy season in the country.

North-based cement manufacturers dispatched 2,192 thousand tons in July, which is 11.4% lower than last year and 19.5% lower than June. Conversely, cement manufacturers from the South region dispatched 818 thousand tons in July, reflecting an 8.2% increase compared to last year but a 1.9% decrease from June.

In domestic markets, north-based cement manufacturers dispatched 2,093 thousand tons in July, showing an 11.0% decline from 2,352 thousand tons last year. In June, north-based cement manufacturers dispatched 2,614 thousand tons of cement.

South-based cement manufacturers dispatched 369,557 tons locally in July, which is a 13.6% decrease from 427,847 tons in July 2023 while it is also down by 21.3% compared to June.

Exports from north-based mills dropped by 18.8%, from 121,814 tons in July 2023 to 98,920 tons this July. However, exports from south-based mills increased by 36.7%, from 327,977 tons in July 2023 to 448,242 tons this July. Compared to June, it has also increased by 23.1%.