Cement dispatches see marginal increase in November

LAHORE: Cement dispatches increased by 5.58 per cent in November 2024. Total cement dispatches for the month amounted to 4.146 million tonnes, compared to 3.927 million tonnes dispatched during the same month of the previous fiscal year.

According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association, local cement dispatches by the industry in November 2024 were 3.342 million tonnes, compared to 3.264 million tonnes in November 2023, reflecting a slight increase of 2.39 per cent. Exports also rose by 21.27 per cent, with volumes increasing from 662,374 tonnes in November 2023 to 803,258 tonnes in November 2024.

In November 2024, north-based cement mills dispatched 2.925 million tonnes, marking an increase of 2.01 per cent compared to 2.867 million tons in November 2023. South-based mills dispatched 1.220 million tonnes in November 2024, a 15.21 per cent rise compared to the 1.060 million tonnes dispatched in November 2023.

North-based cement mills dispatched 2.757 million tonnes in domestic markets in November 2024, showing an increase of 1.23 per cent over the 2.723 million tonnes dispatched in November 2023. South-based mills dispatched 585,689 tons of cement in local markets during November 2024, reflecting an 8.24 per cent increase from the 541,079 tonnes dispatched in November 2023.

Exports from north-based mills increased by 16.9 per cent, rising from 143,942 tonnes in November 2023 to 168,265 tonnes in November 2024. Exports from south-based mills also saw a 22.48 per cent increase, reaching 634,993 tonnes in November 2024, up from 518,432 tonnes in November 2023.

During the first five months of the current fiscal year, total cement dispatches (domestic and exports) amounted to 18.779 million tonnes, which is 5.24 per cent lower than the 19.818 million tons dispatched during the same period of the previous fiscal year. Domestic dispatches during this period were 14.752 million tonnes, compared to 16.69 million tonnes during the same period last year, showing a reduction of 11.61 per cent. Export dispatches rose by 28.73 per cent, increasing to 4.027 million tonnes in the first five months of the current fiscal year, compared to 3.128 million tonnes during the same period of the previous year.

North-based mills dispatched 12.399 million tonnes of cement domestically during the first five months of the current fiscal year, showing a substantial reduction of 10.39 per cent compared to 13.836 million tonnes dispatched during July-November 2023. Exports from the north increased by 26.47 per cent to 878,324 tonnes during July-November 2024, compared with 694,503 tonnes exported during the same period last year. Total dispatches by north-based mills decreased by 8.62 per cent to 13.278 million tonnes during the first five months of the current fiscal year, from 14.531 million tonnes during the same period last year.

Domestic dispatches by south-based mills during July-November 2024 were2.353 million tonnes, reflecting a significant reduction of 17.55 per cent compared to 2.853 million tonnes dispatched during the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Exports from south-based mills also increased by 29.38 per cent, reaching 3.148 million tonnes during July-November 2024, compared with 2.433 million tonnes exported during the same period last year.

Total dispatches by South-based mills increased by 4.05 per cent to 5.501 million tonnes during the first five months of the current fiscal year, up from 5.287 million tonnes during the same period last year.

A spokesman for the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association mentioned that cement sales, particularly domestic off-take, could be increased if the government reduces duties and taxes, thereby lowering costs for the end consumer. This, he said, would boost demand and enable the sector to utilise its idle capacity.