Cement dispatches rise 3.85% YoY in March 2024

April 03, 2024 (MLN): Cement dispatches in Pakistan posted a modest recovery as overall dispatches increased by 3.85% YoY to clock in at 3.941 million tonnes (MT) against 3.795 MT dispatched during the same month of last fiscal year, according to a press release issued by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).

The data further revealed that export dispatches surged by 38.02% YoY to 605,142 tonnes from 438,433 tonnes in the same period last year.

Local cement dispatches in March 2024 stood at 3.336 MT, marking a marginal decrease of 0.62% YoY compared to 3.357 million tons in March 2023.

The North-based cement mills dispatched 2.742 MT of cement in March 2024, showing an increase of 0.76% against 2.721 million tonnes dispatched in March 2023.

Meanwhile, south-based mills dispatched 594,487 tonnes of cement in local markets during March 2024, which was 6.52% less compared to the dispatches of 635,959 tonnes during March 2023.

The exports from North-based mills increased by 24.14% as the quantities increased from 100,431 tonnes in March 2023 to 124,672 tonnes in March 2024.

Exports from the South also increased by 42.15% to 480,470 tonnes in March 2024 from 338,002 tonnes during the same month last year.

During the first nine months of the current fiscal year (9MFY24), total cement dispatches (domestic and exports) were 34.502 MT, which is 2.68% more than the 33.600 MT dispatched during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

Domestic dispatches during this period were 29.401 MT against 30.564 MT during the same period last year, showing a reduction of 3.81%.

Export dispatches rose by a healthy 68.03% as the volumes increased to 5.101 MT during the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared to 3.036 MT exported during the same period of the last fiscal year.

North-based mills dispatched 24.236 MT of cement domestically during the first nine months of the current fiscal year, showing a reduction of 3.24% compared to cement dispatches of 25.048 MT during July-March 2023.

Exports from the North increased by 33.62% to 1.040 MT during July-March 2024 compared with 778,437 tonnes exported during the same period last year.

Total dispatches by North-based mills reduced by 2.13% to 25.277 MT during the 9MFY24 from 25.826 MT during 9MFY23.

Domestic dispatches by South-based mills during July-March 2024 were 5.164 MT, showing a reduction of 6.38% over 5.516 MT of cement dispatched during the same period of the last fiscal year.

Exports from the South substantially increased by 79.9% to 4.060 MT during July-March 2024 compared with 2.257 MT exported during the same period last year.

Total dispatches by South-based mills increased by 18.68% to 9.225 MT during 9MFY24 from 7.773 MT during the same period of the last financial year.

A spokesman for the association said that the industry has strong hopes from the newly formed government to address its concerns.

"Cement units have increased their capacities in expectation of higher construction activities in the country; however, operating at full capacity is still a distant dream," he added.

Copyright Mettis Link News