Cement Sales Experience Slight Decline in April 2024

Cement Sales Experience Slight Decline in April 2024.In April, the amount of cement sent out in Pakistan decreased slightly compared to last year. The data from the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) shows that this year, 2.943 million tons of cement were dispatched, which is a little less than the 2.951 million tons sent out last year.

When we look at just the cement sent to places in Pakistan, the numbers show a drop. In April 2024, 2.328 million tons were sent, whereas in April 2023, it was 2.531 million tons. This means there was a decrease of about 7.99 percent.

On the other hand, exports of cement increased by 45.96 percent, with volumes rising from 420,857 tons in April 2023 to 614,264 tons in April 2024.

In April 2024, cement mills in the northern region dispatched 2.088 million tons of cement, marking a decrease of 4.79 percent compared to the 2.193 million tons dispatched in April 2023.

Mills in the southern region dispatched 854,911 tons of cement in April 2024, which was 12.71% more than the dispatches of 758,510 tons in April 2023.

Cement mills in the northern region dispatched 1.942 million tons of cement in domestic markets in April 2024, showing a decline of 7.91% compared to the 2.109 million tons dispatched in April 2023.

April 2024, mills in the southern region sent out 386,783 tons of cement to local markets, marking a decrease of 8.36 percent compared to the 422,071 tons dispatched in April 2023.

Exports from mills in the northern region increased significantly by 73.11 percent, with quantities rising from 84,418 tons in April 2023 to 146,136 tons in April 2024.

Similarly, exports from the southern region also saw a rise of 39.14 percent, reaching 468,128 tons in April 2024 compared to 336,439 tons in the same month last year.

During the first ten months of the current fiscal year (10MFY24), total cement dispatches (both domestic and exports) amounted to 37.447 million tons, which is 2.45 percent higher than the 36.551 million tons dispatched during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

During this period, domestic dispatches amounted to 31.732 million tons, a decrease of 4.12 percent compared to 33.095 million tons during the same period last year.

Export dispatches, however, showed strong growth, increasing by 65.35 percent to 5.715 million tons during the first ten months of the current fiscal year, compared to 3.457 million tons exported during the same period last fiscal year.

North-based mills dispatched 26.178 million tons of cement domestically during the first ten months of the current fiscal year, indicating a reduction of 3.60 percent.

Exports from the North increased by 37.48 percent to 1.186 million tons during July 2023 to April 2024, compared with 862,855 tons exported during the same period last year.

Total dispatches by North-based mills decreased by 2.34 percent to 27.364 million tons during the first ten months of the current financial year, down from 28.019 million tons during the same period last financial year.

Domestic dispatches by South-based mills from July 2023 to April 2024 were 5.553 million tons, showing a reduction of 6.48 percent compared to the 5.938 million tons of cement dispatched during the same period last fiscal year.

Exports from the South saw a massive increase of 74.62 percent to 4.529 million tons during July 2023 to April 2024, compared with 2.594 million tons exported during the same period last year.

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Total dispatches by South-based mills increased by 18.17 percent to 10.082 million tons during the first ten months of the current financial year, up from 8.532 million tons during the same period last financial year.

A spokesperson for the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association has called on the government to introduce industry-friendly measures in the upcoming budget to stimulate construction activities in the country.

We must enhance our capacity utilization to achieve economies of scale and lower operational costs, ultimately reducing the overall impact on the end consumer,” the spokesperson emphasized.