Cement sales fall 2.12% in November
Cement dispatches declined by 2.12% in November 2023. Total cement dispatches during the month in review were 3.924 million tonnes against 4.009 million tonnes dispatched during the same month of the last fiscal year.
According to the data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), local cement dispatches by the industry during the month of November 2023 were 3.262 million tonnes compared to 3.862 million tonnes in November 2022, showing a decline of 15.53%. Exports of the commodity, however, increased by a massive 348.29% as the volumes rose from 147,757 tonnes in November 2022 to 662,374 tonnes in November 2023.
In November 2023, North-based cement mills dispatched 2.867 million tonnes of cement, showing a decline of 12.24% against 3.267 million tonnes dispatched in November 2022. South-based mills dispatched 1.057 million tonnes s of cement during November 2023, which was 42.44% more compared to the dispatches of 0.742 million tonnes during November 2022.
North-based cement mills dispatched 2.723 million tonnes of cement in domestic markets in November 2023, a slash of 13.91% against 3.163 million tonnes dispatched in November 2022. South-based mills dispatched 538,668 tonnes of cement in local markets during November 2023, 22.85% less than the dispatches of 698,225 tonnes during November 2022.
Exports from North-based mills increased by 38.64% as the quantities rose from 103,824 tonnes in November 2022 to 143,942 tonnes in November 2023. South mills’ exports also massively increased by 1080% to 518,432 tonnes in November 2023 from 43,933 tonnes during the same month last year.
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During the first five months of the current fiscal year, total cement sales (domestic and exports) were 19.816 million tonnes, 10.81% higher than 17.883 million tonnes dispatched during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
Domestic dispatches during this period were 16.688 million tonnes against 16.354 million tonnes during the same period last year, showing an increase of 2.04%. Export dispatches were also 104.60% higher as the volumes increased to 3.129 million tonnes during the first five months of the current fiscal year compared to 1.529 million tonnes exported during the same period of the last fiscal year.
North-based Mills sold 13.836 million tonnes of cement domestically during the first five months of the current fiscal year, showing an increase of 2% against the sales of 13.566 million tonnes during July-November 2022. Exports from North increased by 32.76% to 695,206 tonnes during July-November 2023 compared with 523,647 tonnes exported during the same period last year.
Total dispatches by North-based Mills increased by 3.14% to 14.532 million tonnes during the first five months of the current financial year from 14.089 million tonnes during the same period of the last year.
Domestic dispatches by South-based Mills during July-November 2023 were 2.851 million tonnes, showing an increase of 2.26% over 2.788 million tonnes of cement dispatched during the same period of the last fiscal year. Exports from South also increased by 142.01% to 2.433 million tonnes during July-November 2023.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2023.
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