Cement despatches rise 6% in September

October 03, 2026 (MLN): Cement despatches rose 5.95% year-on-year to 4.621mn tons in September 2026 from 4.361mn tons a year earlier, as higher domestic sales outweighed stagnant exports, data from the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) showed.

Local despatches grew 7.35% to 3.788mn tons from 3.529mn tons, while exports were nearly flat at 832,173 tons against 831,966 tons, said a press release issued.

North vs South in September

North-based mills despatched 3.164mn tons, down 2.43% from 3.242mn tons a year earlier. All of it went to the domestic market, up 4.72% from 3.021mn tons, while the 221,252 tons exported in Sep-25 fell to nil.

South-based mills posted a 30.23% jump in despatches to 1.46mn tons from 1.12mn tons. Local sales rose 22.98% to 624,833 tons from 508,077 tons, and exports surged 36.26% to 832,173 tons from 610,714 tons.

First quarter (Jul-Sep FY27)

Total despatches in the first quarter of FY27 rose 3.88% to 13.141mn tons from 12.651mn tons in the same period last year. Domestic sales gained 7.79% to 10.845mn tons from 10.062mn tons, while exports fell 11.32% to 2.296mn tons from 2.589mn tons.

North-based mills sent out 8.946mn tons, down 1.02% from 9.039mn tons. Their domestic sales rose 6.80% from 8.377mn tons, but they made no exports, compared with 661,866 tons a year earlier.

South-based mills saw despatches climb 16.15% to 4.195mn tons from 3.612mn tons. Domestic sales grew 12.71% to 1.899mn tons from 1.685mn tons, and exports rose 19.15% to 2.296mn tons from 1.927mn tons.

An APCMA spokesman voiced concern over the decline in exports and the continued volatility in energy prices.

He expressed hope that geopolitical tensions would ease soon, allowing the cement and allied industries to recover from the difficult phase.

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