KARACHI: Overall cement sales increased by 5.58 per cent to 4.146 million tonnes in November from 3.927m tonnes in the corresponding period last year.

As per data of All Pak­istan Cement Manufac­turers Associa­tion (APCMA), local cement despatches were up 2.4pc to 3.342m tonnes compared to 3.264m tonnes in November 2023. Exports also increased by 21.27pc to 803,258 tonnes from 662,374 tonnes.

However, total cement despatches — domestic and exports — were down 5.24pc to 18.779m tonnes in 5MFY25 compared to 19.818m tonnes in the corresponding period last fiscal year.

Similarly, domestic sales were down 11.61pc to 14.752m tonnes in 5MFY25 against 16.690m tonnes.

Exports rose 28.73pc year-on-year to 4.027m tonnes in 5MFY25.

An APCMA’s spokesman mentioned that cement sales, especially the domestic off-take, can be increased if the government slashes duties and taxes thereby, enabling the sector to use its idle capacity.

Nasheed Malik of Topline Securities attributed domestic sales drop in 5MFY25 to slowdown in construction activities due to higher cost of construction input and 17pc and 18pc year-on-year cement bag prices in north and south.

Total cement capacity utilisation in November was estimated at 59pc compared to 57pc in October and 64pc in November 2023.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2024