Cement sales at four-month high

More than half of total exports go to Afghanistan while India comes in second place.

KARACHI: Cement sales stood at a four-month high of 2.9 million tons in October compared with two million tons in the preceding month, an increase of 45 per cent.

The major increase was seen in exports which improved by 52 per cent to 0.94 million tons compared with 0.62 million tons in September, according to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association.

More than half of total exports went to Afghanistan while India came in second place.

Cement sales are going to improve further once local demand picks up when post-flood reconstruction activity begins, said Topline Securities analyst Furqan Punjani.

Local sales also improved by 44 per cent to 1.97 million tons from the preceding month’s 1.37 million tons.

However, total sales were down four per cent on a yearly  basis as exports declined 16 per cent while local off-take improved by three per cent.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2010.