Cement exports dip for third month in a row

Total sales inch down 3.2% to 4.14m tons; industry demands duty relief

LAHORE:

Cement exports dropped 26.53% in November 2025 as supplies shrank to 590,183 tons from 803,258 tons in November 2024. This reflects a continued decline in exports over the past three months with shipments contracting 23% in October and 15% in September, according to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association.

On the contrary, domestic cement dispatches in November 2025 were 3.549 million tons compared to 3.472 million tons in November 2024, showing a slight rise of 2.23%. Total cement sales during November 2025 stood at 4.14 million tons against 4.275 million tons during the same month of last fiscal year, down 3.16%.

North-based mills supplied 3.019 million tons, which was almost equal to sales of 3.009 million tons last year. However, southern mills dispatched 1.12 million tons, lower by 11.49% compared to dispatches of 1.26 million tons in November 2024.

Northern mills released 3.019 million tons in domestic markets, registering an increase of 6.27% from dispatches of 2.841 million tons last year. South-based mills sold 530,637 tons in local markets, which was 15.92% less than dispatches of 631,086 tons in November 2024.

During November 2025, exports from north-based mills were almost zero due to the closure of Pakistan-Afghanistan border since the end of October. Exports from the south decreased 7.08% to 590,021 tons from 634,993 tons in the previous year.

Overall, in the first five months of the current fiscal year, total cement dispatches (domestic and exports) reached 21.445 million tons, higher by 11.54% than dispatches of 19.226 million tons in the corresponding period of last year.

Domestic sales during Jul-Nov 2025 were 17.435 million tons against 15.2 million tons during the same period of last year, representing an increase of 14.71%. Exports remained almost unchanged as volumes stood at 4.009 million tons compared to 4.027 million tons last year.

Total dispatches by north-based mills increased 14.31% to 15.579 million tons in the first five months of fiscal year 2025-26 compared to 13.629 million tons during the same period of last year. Similarly, total dispatches by southern mills rose 4.79% to 5.865 million tons from 5.597 million tons in the previous year.

A spokesman for the cement manufacturers association remarked, "We can achieve growth provided the government gives concessions on duties and taxes that will ultimately benefit the end-consumer. Time and again, we have requested the government to frame industry-friendly policies to reduce the cost of business, thereby making our cement competitive in regional and global markets."