Cement dispatches increased by a marginal 0.91% year-on-year in March, rising from 3.712 million tons in 2025 to 3.745 million tons this year, according to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).
In a statement, the APCMA said mills dispatched 3.097 million tons locally in March 2026 against 3.103 million tons the year prior, a decline of 0.20%. However, exports increased by 6.56%, going from 608,614 tons in March 2025 to 648,564 tons in Mar 2026.
Regional break-up
North based cement mills dispatched 2.639 million tons of cement in March 2026, an increase of 3.07% against the 2.561 million tons dispatched in the same month last year. South-based mills dispatched 1.11 million tons last month, 3.89% less than the 1.151 million tons dispatched in March 2025.
Of the total dispatched cement, North-based mills dispatched all 2.639 million tons in domestic markets, a 3.82% increase over the 2.542 million tons of domestic dispatched in March 2025. They dispatched no cement for export.
South-based mills, meanwhile, dispatched 457,583 tons of cement in local markets during March 2026, 18.4% less than 560,797 tons dispatched in the corresponding period of 2025. Exports from South-based mills increased by 9.91% to 648,564 tons, rising from 590,106 tons in March 2025.
The first nine month of the ongoing fiscal year have recorded total cement dispatches of 38.54 million tons, 9.80% higher than the 35.1 million tons dispatched in the same period of the last fiscal year. Domestic dispatches during this period stood at 31.6 million tons, 10.61% higher than the 28.56 million tons dispatched in the same period of last year. Export dispatches increased by 6.25%, going from 6.53 million tons to 6.94 million tons.
Domestically, the first nine months of the ongoing fiscal year saw North-based mills dispatch 26.384 million tons of cement, 12.14% higher than the 23.527 million tons of cement dispatched during July 2024-March 2025. Exports from the North, however, declined by 28.54% to 800,360 tons against the 1.12 million tons exported during the same period last year. Total dispatches by North-based mills increased by 10.29% to 27.184 million tons during the first nine months of the current financial year against 24.647 million tons during the same period of the last financial year.
Domestic dispatches by South based mills from July 2025-March 2026 hit 5.216 million tons, 3.47% higher than the 5.041 million tons of cement dispatched in last year’s corresponding period. Their exports increased by 13.45% to 6.14 million tons against 5.412 million tons of last year.
Total dispatches by South-based mills increased by 8.64% to 11.356 million tons during first nine months of the current financial year against 10.453 million tons during the same period of the last financial year.
In a statement, a spokesman of the APCMA said prevailing geopolitical tensions were posing serious threats to manufacturing sectors. He noted cement is an energy intensive industry and the current volatility in prices of oil and coal can lead to cost escalations and disruptions in supply chains. He applauded the role of Pakistan as a peacemaker to reduce global tensions in the greater interest of all stakeholders.