KARACHI: Local cement sales rose by 4.36 per cent year-on-year to 3.601 million tonnes in January while exports surged by 79.4pc to 937,097 tonnes despite nil exports from the north-based companies.

Total cement despatches (local and exports) increased by 12.54pc year-on-year to 4.538m tonnes in January.

According to the data released by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association, total cement despatches (domestic and exports) rose 10.58pc year-on-year to 30.583m tonnes in 7MFY26. Domestic sales increased 12.36pc to 25.015m tonnes while exports rose 3.26pc to 5.568m tonnes during the period.

Rabia Yousuf of Topline Securities said exports in January were mainly driven by sea-borne shipments from southern zone companies, while continued border disruptions and political instability along the Afghan border kept exports from north-based companies at nil.

Oil sales

Oil marketing companies recorded sales of 1.52m tonnes in January, up 10pc year-on-year and 12pc month-on-month. The YoY increase reflects economic recovery, easing inflation, and improved control over smuggling, while the MoM rise is driven by lower petrol and diesel prices in January and a low base following the nationwide strike in December 2025 that disrupted sales for around 10 days.

Myesha Sohail of Topline Securities said total oil sales for 7MFY26 stood at 9.7m tonnes, a 3pc YoY increase compared to 9.4m tonnes in 7MFY25.

She said petrol sales saw a 3pc YoY and 2pc MoM increase to 641,000 tonnes in January, while high-speed diesel (HSD) sales also rose 11pc YoY and 20pc MoM to 664,000 tonnes. Furnace oil (FO) sales in January were up by 76pc YoY to 102,000 tonnes, which is a seven-month high.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2026