Cement dispatches up 6pc in October

LAHORE: Cement dispatches recorded marginal growth in October 2025, with total volumes reaching 4.754 million tonnes compared to 4.49 million tonnes in the same month last fiscal year, reflecting an increase of 5.87 per cent.

According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), local cement dispatches during October 2025 stood at 3.926 million tonnes, up 15.17 per cent from 3.409 million tonnes in October 2024. However, export dispatches fell sharply by 23.44 per cent to 0.827 million tonnes from 1.081 million tonnes a year earlier. In September 2025, exports had already declined by 15.25 per cent month-on-month (MoM).

In October 2025, North-based cement mills dispatched 3.525 million tonnes, up 15.03 per cent from Domestic sales from North-based mills rose 18.07 per cent to 3.379 million tonnes, while those from South-based mills remained stable at 547,661 tonnes compared with 547,611 tonnes in October 2024.

Exports from the North fell 27.79 per cent to 146,478 tonnes from 202,858 tonnes a year earlier. Exports from the South also declined by 22.43%, falling to 680,903 tonnes from 877,833 tonnes in October 2024.

During the first four months of the current fiscal year, total cement dispatches (domestic and export combined) reached 17.265 million tonnes, up 15.48 per cent from 14.951 million tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year. Domestic dispatches rose 18.09 per cent to 13.849 million tonnes, while exports increased by 5.97 per cent to 3.416 million tonnes.

North-based mills dispatched 11.739 million tonnes domestically during July-October 2025, an 18.46 per cent rise from 9.91 million tonnes in the same period last year. Exports from the North grew 13.84 per cent to 808,344 tonnes, while total dispatches increased 18.15 per cent to 12.547 million tonnes.

South-based mills dispatched 2.11 million tonnes domestically during the same period, up 16.07 per cent from 1.818 million tonnes a year earlier. Exports from the South increased slightly by 3.75 per cent to 2.607 million tonnes, with total dispatches up 8.92 per cent to 4.718 million tonnes compared with 4.331 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year.

An APCMA spokesperson said the continued decline in exports over the past two months was a concern. “If this trend continues, it may dent our hopes of a cement sector revival,” he said, urging the government to introduce export-friendly measures to make Pakistani cement more competitive in international markets.