Cement dispatches climb 12pc in August

LAHORE: The cement sector recorded more than 12 per cent growth in August 2025, with total dispatches reaching 3.846 million tonnes compared to 3.421 million tonnes in the same month last year.

According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), local dispatches in August 2025 stood at 3.097 million tonnes, up 10.33 per cent from 2.807 million tonnes in August 2024. Export dispatches also rose sharply, increasing by 22.13 per cent from 613,857 tonnes to 749,723 tonnes over the same period.

However, July 2025 had seen even stronger performance, with domestic dispatches rising by 18.61 per cent and exports surging by 84 per cent compared with July 2024.In August 2025, north-based cement mills dispatched 2.795 million tonnes, an 8.1 per cent increase from 2.585 million tonnes a year earlier. South-based mills posted higher growth, dispatching 1.05 million tonnes, up 25.93 per cent from 0.835 million tonnes in August 2024.

Domestic dispatches from north-based mills rose 8.64 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to 2.586 million tonnes, while south-based mills dispatched 510,758 tonnes, up 19.81 per cent from 426,289 tonnes in the same month last year.

Exports from north-based mills increased marginally by 1.84 per cent to 208,669 tonnes in August 2025, compared to 204,901 tonnes in August 2024. Exports from south-based mills rose more significantly, up 32.3 per cent to 541,054 tonnes from 408,956 tonnes a year earlier.

During the first two months of the current fiscal year, total cement dispatches (domestic and export) stood at 7.847 million tonnes, up 20.88 per cent from 6.492 million tonnes in the same period last year. Domestic dispatches grew 14.25 per cent to 6.09 million tonnes, while exports surged 51.29 per cent to 1.757 million tonnes compared to 1.161 million tonnes a year earlier.

North-based mills dispatched 5.004 million tonnes domestically in July-August 2025, up 10.36 per cent from 4.535 million tonnes a year earlier. Exports from the north rose 44.99 per cent to 440,654 tonnes from 303,921 tonnes, bringing total dispatches to 5.445 million tonnes, a 12.53 per cent increase from 4.839 million tonnes in July-August 2024.

South-based mills posted domestic dispatches of 1.086 million tonnes in the first two months of FY26, up 36.46 per cent from 0.796 million tonnes a year earlier. Exports from the south increased by 53.53 per cent to 1.316 million tonnes from 0.857 million tonnes. Total dispatches from south-based mills rose 45.31 per cent to 2.402 million tonnes from 1.653 million tonnes in the same period last year.An APCMA spokesperson urged the government to reduce taxes on cement to help lower the cost of rehabilitation in flood-affected areas.