The latest data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) revealed complex picture of the cement industry's performance in September 2023.
Cement dispatches in September 2023 totaled 4.115 million tons, registering a decline of 3.96% when compared to the 4.284 million tons recorded during the same month in the previous fiscal year.
The local cement market experienced a noticeable decrease, with dispatches dropping from 3.806 million tons in September 2022 to 3.544 million tons in September 2023, reflecting a 6.87% decline.
Exports Surge by 19.24pc
In contrast, the cement industry's exports showed remarkable growth, surging by 19.24%.
September 2023 saw a substantial increase in export volumes, rising from 478,097 tons in the previous year to 570,101 tons.
Regional insights: North vs South
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North-based mills dispatched 3.035 million tons of cement in September 2023, marking a 7% decline compared to the 3.264 million tons dispatched in September 2022.
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South-based mills experienced a 5.79% increase in dispatches, reaching 1.079 million tons in September 2023, up from 1.020 million tons during the same month in the previous year.
Domestic market performance
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North-based mills dispatched 2.893 million tons of cement in the domestic market in September 2023, showing a decline of 7.79% from the 3.137 million tons dispatched in September 2022.
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South-based mills dispatched 651,287 tons of cement in the local market during September 2023, representing a 2.58% decrease compared to the 668,512 tons dispatched in September 2022.
Export growth by region
Exports from north-based mills increased by 12.43%, rising from 126,502 tons in September 2022 to 142,226 tons in September 2023.
Meanwhile, exports from south-based mills witnessed a substantial increase of 21.70%, reaching 427,875 tons in September 2023, up from 351,595 tons during the same month last year.
During the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the cement industry demonstrated robust performance, with total cement dispatches (domestic and exports) reaching 11.873 million tons.
This represents a remarkable increase of 23.40% compared to the 9.621 million tons recorded during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
North-based mills played a significant role in this impressive performance, dispatching 8.333 million tons of cement domestically during the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
This figure reflects a notable increase of 14.8% compared to cement dispatches of 7.259 million tons during the first quarter of the last fiscal year.
