Cement dispatches drop 19.22% YoY in February 2024

March 05, 2024 (MLN): Cement dispatches in Pakistan dropped by 19.22% YoY in February 2024, as the total dispatches stood at 3.259 million tonnes (MT) against 4.035 MT dispatched during the same month of last fiscal year, according to a press release issued by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).

Local cement dispatches in February 2024 stood at 2.863 MT, marking a substantial decrease of 20.23% YoY from February 2023.

Similarly, exports declined by 11.02% YoY, with volumes dropping from 444,962 tonnes in February 2023 to 395,935 tonnes in February 2024.

North-based cement mills dispatched 2.433 MT in February 2024, representing a decline of 19.26% YoY from February 2023, while South-based mills dispatched 826,085 tonnes, reflecting a 19.08% YoY decrease compared to February 2023.

Domestic dispatches from North-based mills totaled 2.338m tonnes in February 2024, showing a decline of 20.73% YoY from February 2023, while South-based mills dispatched 525,543 tonnes, marking a 17.97% YoY reduction compared to February 2023.

Despite the overall decline, exports from North-based mills increased by 47.40% YoY, reaching 95,393 tonnes in February 2024. However, exports from South-based mills decreased by 20.96% YoY to 300,542 tonnes during the same period.

Over the first eight months of the current fiscal year (8MFY24), total cement dispatches reached 30.555 MT, a modest increase of 2.52% YoY from the corresponding period last fiscal year.

Domestic dispatches during this period were 26.059 MT, down by 4.22% YoY from the same period last year.

However, exports showed a significant increase of 73.1% YoY, reaching 4.496 MT compared to 2.597 MT in the previous fiscal year.

North-based mills dispatched 21.495 MT domestically during 8MFY24, representing a reduction of 3.73% YoY from July-February 2023.

Exports from the North increased by 35.02% YoY, totaling 915,449 tons during July-February 2024.

Conversely, domestic dispatches by South-based mills decreased by 6.47% YoY, while exports surged by 86.55% YoY during the same period.

A spokesperson for the All-Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association expressed hope that the new government would introduce industry-friendly policies and address critical issues promptly.

The association urges the government to expedite pending public sector development projects to provide relief to the construction industry and the hundreds of thousands of skilled and unskilled laborers associated with the sector.

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