PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE: Cement dispatches continued to show strong growth in April 2018 as exports added to sales, taking the industry’s capacity utilisation to its highest level yet.
According to the data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), the industry dispatched 4.24 million tons in April 2018, 17.46 per cent higher than 3.58 million tons in the corresponding month of the previous year.
On back of textile and cement’s demand, gross advances improve
Domestic consumption stood at 3.78 million tons, out of which 3.11 million tons were consumed in the north, and 0.66 million tons were consumed in the south, reflecting a growth of 13.62 per cent. Cement exports surged to 0.47 million tons, 81.4 per cent higher than the exports during the corresponding period of last year.
Cement sales recorded at 4.7m tons in March, highest in history
Overall dispatches, during the first ten months of this fiscal, were recorded at 39 million tons compared with 33.88 million tons during the same period last year, posting a growth of 15.1 per cent.
Spokesman of APCMA said the increase is encouraging for the economy but the recent hike in federal excise duty will hurt consumption.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2018.
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