Cement industry gains 15.64% growth

KARACHI: During July to November 2015, cement industry has posted a growth of 15.64 percent in domestic sales compared with sales during same period of last fiscal year.

Domestic despatches rose to 12.2 million tons during this period against 10.56 million tons during same period of last fiscal.

Exports during July to November 2015 recorded a massive decline to 2.56 million tons from 3.45 million tons during last year i.e. by 25.73 percent, said press release on Friday.

The overall situation during first five months of current fiscal year showed a growth of 5.46 percent compared to the same period of last fiscal year.

Quantitatively the total despatches by cement industry were 14.77 million tons from July 15 to Nov. 15 against 14 million tons during corresponding period of last fiscal year.

Analyzing zone wise despatches, the north based cement mills despatched 10.17 million tons to domestic markets during July to November 2015 that was 14.6 percent higher than the despatches during same period of last fiscal.

Exports from north however declined during this period to 1.63 million tons i.e. by 25.24 percent over last fiscal that were 2.18 million tons.

In southern region, the cement mills experienced even more growth in domestic markets as against despatches of 1.69 million tons during July to November 2014, the domestic dispatches increased by 21.09 percent to 2.04 million tons.

However, there was a definite slump in exports that declined by 26.58 percent to 0.93 million tons from 1.26 million tons during the corresponding period last year. The upward trend in domestic consumption of cement this fiscal continued in 5th straight month; at the same time exports continued to lose global markets.

Cement dispatches to domestic markets during the month of November 2015 were 2.843 million tons compared with 2.369 million tons during same month last year showing an increase of 20%.

Exports during November 2015 were 0.533 million tons against 0.66 million tons during November, 2014 showing decline of 19%. Total despatches during November, 2015 were 3.376 million tons compared to 3.028 million tons during same month last year showing increase of 11.49 percent. The despatches in November were the highest in past five months.