Cement dispatches declined by 3.96% in Sep 2023. Total Cement dispatches during Sep 2023 were 4.115 million tons against 4.284 Million Tons dispatched during the same month of last fiscal year. According to the data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association, local cement dispatches by the industry during September 2023 were 3.544 million tons compared to 3.806 million tons in Sep 2022, showing a decline of 6.87%. Export dispatches increased by 19.24% as the volumes rose from 478,097 tons in Sep 2022 to 570,101 tons in Sep 2023.

In Sep 2023, North-based cement mills dispatched 3.035 million tons of cement, showing a decline of 7.00% against 3.264 million tons of dispatches in Sep 2022. South-based mills dispatched 1.079 million tons of cement during Sep 2023, 5.79% more than the dispatches of 1.020 million tons during Sep 2022.

North-based cement mills dispatched 2.893 million tons of cement in domestic markets in Sep 2023, showing a decline of 7.79% against 3.137 million tons dispatches in Sep 2022. South-based mills dispatched 651,287 tons of cement in local markets during Sep 2023, which was 2.58% less compared to the dispatches of 668,512 during Sep 2022.

Exports from North-based mills increased by 12.43% as the quantities rose from 126,502 tons in Sep 2022 to 142,226 tons in Sep 2023. Exports from the South also increased by 21.70% to 427,875 tons in Sep 2023 from 351,595 tons during the same month last year.

During the first quarter of the current fiscal year, total cement dispatches (domestic and exports) were 11.873 million tons, 23.40% more than the 9.621 million tons dispatched during the last fiscal year. Domestic dispatches during this period were 10.122 million tons against 8.602 million tons during the same period the previous year, showing an increase of 17.67%. Export dispatches were also 71.79% more as the volumes increased to 1.751 million tons during the first three months of the current fiscal year compared to 1.019 million tons of exports during the last fiscal year.

North-based Mills dispatched 8.333 million tons of cement domestically during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, showing an increase of 14.80% from cement dispatches of 7.259 million tons during the first quarter of the last fiscal year. Exports from the North also increased by 48.33% per cent to 428,235 tons during July-Sep 2023 compared with 288,712 tons exported during the previous year. Total dispatches by North-based Mills increased by 16.08% to 8.762 million tons during the first three months of the current financial year from 7.548 million tons during the last financial year.

Domestic dispatches by South-based Mills during July-Sep 2023 were 1.789 million tons, showing an increase of 33.18% over 1.343 million tons of cement dispatched during the last fiscal year. Exports from the South also increased by 81.07% to 1.322 million tons during July-Sep 2023 compared with 0.730 million tons exported during the same period last year. Total dispatches by South-based Mills increased by 50.05% to 3.111 million tons during the first three months of the current financial year from 2.073 million tons during the last financial year.

A spokesman of the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association mentioned that the industry has immense potential to grab export markets provided the government gives relief in duties and taxes to curb the cost of production to make our product competitive in international markets. Coal is a major cost element, and its import duty, which is 5%, must be abolished. He added that we are also seriously concerned with the rising power tariff and petroleum prices.