Local cement sales jump, exports fall

Total dispatches amount to 14.77m tons against 14m previous year

LAHORE: The cement industry has posted a growth of 15.64% in domestic sales during July to November this year compared to the same period last year.

Domestic dispatches rose to 12.2 million tons against 10.56 million tons during the same period the previous year.



However, exports recorded a massive decline of 25.73%, falling to 2.56 million tons from 3.45 million tons during last year.

Total dispatches amounted to 14.77 million tons against 14 million tons during the corresponding period last year.

Zone-wise dispatches

North-based cement mills dispatched 10.17 million tons to domestic markets during July to November, 14.6% higher than the dispatches during the same period last fiscal year.

Exports from north, however, declined 25.24% during this period to 1.63 million tons.

DESIGN: NABEEL AHMED

In the south, a similar pattern was observed as against dispatches of 1.69 million tons during July to November 2014, domestic dispatches increased by 21.09% to 2.04 million tons. However, there was a definite slump in exports that declined by 26.58% to 0.93 million tons from 1.26 million tons during the corresponding period last year.



Cement dispatches to domestic markets during November 2015 were 2.843 million tons compared with 2.369 million tons during the same month last year, showing an increase of 20%.

Exports during November 2015 were 0.533 million tons against 0.66 million tons during November 2014, showing a decline of 19%.

All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association said the government is yet to resolve the issue of unregulated import of Iranian cement.

The same cement, he added, is finding its way in the Afghan markets in which Pakistan’s share has been reduced by 20.63% during the first five months of the current fiscal year.



“The issue has been highlighted to various policymakers. Locally produced cement is fast losing its market in areas adjacent to the Iranian border and the coastal areas of Balochistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2015.

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