Local cement dispatches declined by 4.76% year-on-year in December 2024, according to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).
In a statement, APCMA said the industry dispatched 3.370 million tons of cement in December 2024 compared to 3.539 million tons in the same month a year prior. At the same time, it said, exports had increased by 49.35%, going from 524,656 tons in December 2023 to 783,550 tons in December 2024.
Total cement dispatches in December 2024 were 4.154 million tons against 4.063 million tons during the same month last year, an increase of 2.23%.
According to APCMA, north-based cement mills dispatched 2.9 million tons in December 2024, a 3.71% decline from last year. Dispatches from south-based mills, meanwhile, increased by 19.25% to 1.254 million tons.
Of the north’s shipments, 2.786 million tons of cement were dispatched to domestic markets in December 2024, 5.11% less than the 2.936 million tons dispatched a year earlier. In the south, domestic markets received 584,684 tons of cement this year compared to 603,010 tons last year.
Exports from north based mills, however, improved by 50.18%, going from 75,967 tons in December 2023 to 114,089 tons in the same month of 2024. Exports from the south similarly increased by 49.20% to 669,461 tons in December 2024.
In the first six months of fiscal year 2024-25, total cement dispatches stood at 22.933 million tons, 3.97% lower than the 23.881 million tons dispatched in the corresponding period last year. Domestic dispatches during this period stood at 18.122 million tons, a 10.41% decline from the 20.228 million tons dispatched in the previous fiscal. Export dispatches during the first six months of FY2024-25 were 31.69% higher than the prior year, going from 3.653 million tons to 4.810 million tons.
In a statement, a spokesman of APCMA expressed concern over the continuous decline in local cement demand, maintaining it plays a major role in industrialization and economic growth. “Reduction of duties and taxes by the government can bring the cost of the commodity down, which can boost sales and enable the sector to utilize its idle capacity,” he added.