The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) on Tuesday warned that cement exports had declined for a third consecutive month, with the November 2025 figures exhibiting a staggering 26.53% reduction year-on-year.
In a statement, the representative body said mills had exported 590,183 tons of cement in November 2025 compared to 803,258 tons in the corresponding month last year. It noted that exports had similarly declined by around 15% in September and 23% in October.
Meanwhile, the APCMA recorded domestic cement dispatches of 3.549 million tons in November 2025 against 3.472 million tons last year, a marginal increase of 2.23%. Total cement dispatches during November stood at 4.14 million tons against 4.275 million tons last year, a decline of 3.17%.
Regional breakup
In November 2025, North based mills dispatched 3.019 million tons of cement, nearly equal to the 3.009 million tons dispatched in November 2024. Nearly all 3.019 million tons of these dispatches were to the domestic market with exports almost nil following the closure of Pak-Afghan border crossings. The figure was 6.27% higher than the 2.841 million tons dispatched to domestic markets in November 2024.
South based mills, meanwhile, dispatched 1.12 million tons of cement in November 2025, 11.49% lower than the 1.26 million tons dispatched in the same month last year. Of this, 530,637 tons of cement were for the local market, a 15.92% decline against the 631,086 tons they dispatched during November 2024. Exports from South-based mills declined by 7.08%, from 634,993 tons in November 2024 to 590,021 tons this year.
Fiscal year so far
During the first five months (July-November) of the ongoing fiscal year, total cement dispatches reached 21.445 million tons, 11.54% higher than the 19.226 million tons dispatched during the corresponding period last fiscal year. Domestic dispatches during this period totaled 17.435 million tons against 15.2 million tons last year, an increase of 14.71%. Export dispatched remained nearly stagnant, clocking in at 4.009 million tons this year compared to 4.027 million tons last fiscal year.
North based mills dispatched 14.771 million tons of cement domestically during July-November, 15.84% higher than the 12.751 million tons dispatched during the same period last year. Exports from the North declined by 7.95%, going from 878,324 tons to 808,506 tons. Total dispatches from North-based mills increased by 14.31%, going from 13.629 million tons to 15.579 million tons.
Domestic dispatches by South based mills during July-November 2025 hit 2.665 million tons, increasing by 8.81% over the 2.449 million tons dispatched during the same period last fiscal year. Exports showed a very slight increase of 1.66%, going from 3.15 million tons last year to 3.2 million tons this year. Total dispatches by South based mills increased by 4.79% to 5.865 million tons against the 5.597 million tons dispatched in the same period last financial year.
A spokesman for the APCMA stressed that growth requires the government granting concessions on duties and taxes, adding this would ultimately benefit the end consumer. He noted the industry had repeatedly called on the government to frame industry-friendly policies to reduce the cost of business boosting Pakistani cement’s competitiveness in regional and global markets.