According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), domestic cement sales during the first eleven months of the current fiscal year recorded a year-over-year drop of 1.94%. Quantitatively, the volumes dropped from 35.1 million tons from July 2023 to May 2024 to 34.4 million tons from July 2024 to May 2025. Exports, however, recorded an increase of 25.73%, resulting in the sector witnessing a marginal 2.46% growth during these eleven months.

Meanwhile, exports in the North region surged due to a low base caused by border tensions in the previous month, while exports in the South remained largely flat.

In May 2025, cement dispatches increased by 8.57%, totalling 4.651 million tons, against 4.284 million tons dispatched during the same month of the previous fiscal year. Local cement dispatches by the industry during May 2025 totalled 3.662 million tons, compared to 3.362 million tons in May 2024, representing an increase of 8.93%. Exports jumped by 7.27% as volumes increased from 0.922 million tons in May 2024 to 0.989 million tons in May 2025.

Commenting on the APCMA’s dispatch data, Usama Rauf of AKD Securities Ltd stated that local off-takes increased on a year-over-year (YoY) basis due to improved construction activity, particularly across the Punjab and Sindh regions. The sequential increase was driven by a higher number of working days, as Apr ’25 was impacted by the Eid holidays.

In May 2025, North-based cement mills dispatched 3.261 million tons of cement, representing an increase of 11.87% compared to 2.915 million tons dispatched in May 2024. South-based mills dispatched 1.39 million tons of cement in May 2025, which was 1.54% more than the 1.379 million tons dispatched in May 2024.

North-based cement mills dispatched 3.02 million tons of cement in domestic markets in May 2025, showing an increase of 9.71% against 2.753 million tons dispatched in May 2024. South-based mills dispatched 641,894 tons of cement in local markets during May 2025, which was 5.37% more than the 609,174 tons dispatched during May 2024.

Exports from North-based mills increased by 48.27% as the quantities rose from 162,929 tons in May 2024 to 241,578 tons in May 2025. Exports from the South decreased by 1.53% to 747,856 tons in May 2025, compared to 759,456 tons during the same month last year.

During the first eleven months of the current fiscal year, total cement despatches (domestic and exports) were 42.764 million tons, which is 2.46% more than 41.739 million tons despatched during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. Domestic dispatches during this period totalled 34.419 million tons, compared to 35.102 million tons during the same period the previous year, representing a 2.1% reduction. Exports, on the other hand, showed a healthy increase of 25.73% as volumes jumped to 8.345 million tons during the first eleven months of the current fiscal year, compared to 6.637 million tons of exports during the same period of the last fiscal year.

North-based Mills dispatched 28.489 million tons of cement domestically during the first eleven months of the current fiscal year, representing a 1.53% reduction compared to the 28.931 million tons dispatched from July 2023 to May 2024. Exports from the North increased by 9.47% per cent to 1.476 million tons during July 2024-May 2025 compared with 1.348 million tons exported during the same period last year. Total dispatches by North-based Mills reduced by 1.04% to 29.965 million tons during the first eleven months of the current financial year, from 30.279 million tons during the same period of the previous financial year.

Domestic dispatches by South-based Mills from July 2024 to May 2025 totalled 5.930 million tons, representing a 3.90% reduction from the 6.171 million tons of cement dispatched during the same period of the previous fiscal year. Exports from the South increased by 29.88% to 6.868 million tons from July 2024 to May 2025, compared with 5.288 million tons exported during the same period last year. Total dispatches by South-based mills increased by 11.69% to 12.799 million tons during the first eleven months of the current financial year, from 11.459 million tons during the same period of the last financial year.

A spokesman for the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association emphasised that the 1.94% negative growth in local off-take during the first eleven months of the current fiscal year needs to be seriously examined. Domestic demand plays a crucial role in utilising the sector’s idle capacity, as well as in the country’s overall economic development. The cement industry is closely linked to various allied sectors, including steel, paint, and electrical items, among others. An increase in construction activities is expected to uplift the economy as a whole. He was optimistic that the government would consider the industry’s plea in the upcoming budget and announce measures to reduce duties and taxes on cement, making it more affordable for the masses.