ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) reported a 4.76% decline in domestic cement dispatches during December 2024, with local deliveries totaling 3.370 million tons compared to 3.539 million tons in December 2023. In contrast, export dispatches surged by 49.35%, rising from 524,656 tons in December 2023 to 783,550 tons in December 2024. Overall, total cement dispatches in December 2024 increased by 2.23%, reaching 4.154 million tons compared to 4.063 million tons in the same month last year.
Regional Dispatches:
Cement mills in the northern region dispatched 2.9 million tons in December 2024, marking a 3.71% decline compared to 3.012 million tons in December 2023. Meanwhile, southern mills recorded a 19.25% increase in dispatches, delivering 1.254 million tons compared to 1.052 million tons in the same period last year.
Domestic dispatches from northern mills decreased by 5.11%, falling to 2.786 million tons in December 2024 from 2.936 million tons in December 2023. Similarly, southern mills experienced a 3.04% decline in local deliveries, dropping to 584,684 tons from 603,010 tons during the same period last year.
Exports from northern mills rose sharply by 50.18%, increasing from 75,967 tons in December 2023 to 114,089 tons in December 2024. Exports from southern mills also grew significantly by 49.20%, reaching 669,461 tons compared to 448,689 tons during the same period last year.
Six-Month Performance:
During the first half of the current fiscal year, total cement dispatches (domestic and exports) declined by 3.97%, amounting to 22.933 million tons compared to 23.881 million tons in the corresponding period of the previous year. Domestic dispatches fell by 10.41%, reaching 18.122 million tons compared to 20.228 million tons during the same period last year. Export dispatches, however, increased by 31.69%, rising to 4.810 million tons from 3.653 million tons in the previous year.
Northern mills dispatched 15.185 million tons domestically during July–December 2024, reflecting a 9.46% decline from 16.772 million tons in the same period of 2023. Exports from the northern region grew by 28.81%, reaching 992,413 tons compared to 770,470 tons during the same period last year. Total dispatches by northern mills fell by 7.78%, totaling 16.177 million tons compared to 17.542 million tons in the corresponding period of the previous year.
In the southern region, domestic dispatches during the first six months of FY 2024 amounted to 2.937 million tons, a 15.02% decrease from 3.456 million tons in the same period last year. However, exports from southern mills surged by 32.47%, rising to 3.817 million tons compared to 2.882 million tons during the same period last year. Total dispatches by southern mills increased by 6.57%, reaching 6.755 million tons compared to 6.339 million tons during the same period last year.
Industry Concerns
An APCMA spokesperson expressed serious concerns about the persistent decline in local cement demand, emphasizing that domestic sales play a crucial role in driving the industry’s and the economy’s growth.
“Reducing duties and taxes can lower the cost of cement, stimulate demand, and help the sector utilize its idle capacity,” the spokesperson suggested.
