Domestic cement despatches that, after many months of negative momentum, showed a m-o-m (month over month) increase by 11.64% during January 2025, didn’t pick up as expected during February 2025. According to the data released by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), local cement despatches by the industry during February 2025 were 3.065 million tons compared to 2.869 million tons in February 2024, showing a marginal increase of 6.82%. Exports despatches, however, increased by 34.30% as the volumes jumped from 395,935 tons in February 2024 to 531,736 tons in February 2025. Total cement despatches during February 2025 were 3.596 million tons against 3.265 million tons despatched during the same month of last fiscal year, showing an increase of 10.15%.

In February 2025, North-based cement mills despatched 2.556 million tons of cement, an increase of 5.06% compared to 2.433 million tons despatched in February 2024. South-based mills despatched 1.04 million tons of cement, 25.04% more than the despatches of 0.831 million tons during February 2024.

North-based cement mills despatched 2.507 million tons of cement in domestic markets in February 2025, an increase of 7.22% compared to 2.338 million tons despatched in February 2024. South-based mills despatched 557,895 tons of cement in local markets during February 2025, just 5.06% more than the 531,044 tons despatched in February 2024.

Exports from North-based mills suffered a massive drop of 47.82% as the quantities reduced from 95,393 tons in February 2024 to 49,780 tons in February 2025. On the other hand, exports from South increased by 60.36% to 481,956 tons in February 2025 from 300,542 tons during the same month last year.

During the first eight months of the current fiscal year, total cement despatches (domestic and exports) were 30.423 million tons, which is 0.45% lower than 30.560 million tons despatched during the corresponding period of last fiscal year. Domestic despatches during this period were 24.5 million tons against 26.06 million tons during the same period the previous year, showing a reduction of 6.00%. During this period, export despatches increased by 31.78%, and the quantities increased to 5.924 million tons compared to 4.495 million tons of exports during the same period of last fiscal year.

North-based mills despatched 20.36 million tons of cement domestically during the first eight months of the current fiscal year, showing a reduction of 5.28% compared to the cement despatches of 21.49 million tons during July-February 2024. Exports from North increased by 20.42% percent to 1.101 million tons during July-February 2025 compared with 0.914 million tons exported during the same period last year. Total despatches by North based Mills reduced by 4.23% to 21.462 million tons during the first eight months of the current financial year from 22.410 million tons during the last financial year.

Domestic despatches by South based Mills during July-February 2025 were 4.139 million tons showing reduction of 9.42% over 4.570 million tons cement despatched during last fiscal year. Exports from South increased by 34.68% to 4.822 million tons during July-February 2025 compared with 3.580 million tons exported during the previous year. Total despatches by South-based mills increased by 9.96% to 8.962 million tons during the first eight months of the current financial year, and it increased from 8.150 million tons during the last financial year.

A spokesman of the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association mentioned that we expect industry-friendly measures by the government in the upcoming budget to increase the sector’s capacity utilization. He added that the cement industry attracts many allied industries and plays a pivotal role in the country’s overall economic uplift.