KARACHI: Domestic consumption of cement increased 11 per cent to 37.589 million tonnes in July-May.

According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), cement exports in the 11 months declined 21.27pc to 4.319m tonnes. Cement exports have been in decline since 2008-09 when they peaked at 10.8m tonnes.

Domestic despatches in May grew 11pc while exports fell 44.58pc. Exports registered a massive decline for the fourth consecutive month. They decreased 46pc in February, 60pc in March and 51pc in April.

Cement despatches to domestic markets in May were 3.4m tonnes compared to 3.065m tonnes a year ago. Exports in May were 0.309m tonnes, down 44.58pc on a year-on-year basis. Total despatches in May were 3.708m tonnes, up 2.36pc from a year ago.

In May, exports to Afghan­istan decreased 53pc year-on-year to 0.097m tonnes.

Exports to India also registered a decline of 15.22pc to 0.114m tonnes. Exports to India are mainly through the Wagah border and southern coast of India.

A spokesman for the APCMA expressed concerns over falling exports to Afghanistan that declined 31.24pc between July 2016 and May. He said cement exports to India increased 35pc over the same period.

He deplored the fact that the government slapped additional taxes on cement in the budget.

It will hurt the industry that has been posting healthy growth for the last 18 months.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2017