Cement industry: APCMA demands govt take export-friendly measures

LAHORE: Expressing concern over the decline in exports for the last two consecutive months, the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has urged the government to take export-friendly measures to make the cement sector more competitive and attractive for foreign markets.

“If the decline continues, it may dent hopes of the cement sector’s revival,” said a spokesman of the Association on Monday.

According to the monthly data released by the APCMA, export dispatches declined by a massive 23.44% (September 2025 m-o-m decline: 15.25 percent) as volumes fell from 1.081 million tons in October 2024 to just 0.827 million tons in October 2025.

Nevertheless, local cement dispatches by the industry during October 2025 stood at 3.926 million tons compared to 3.409 million tons in October 2024, showing a month-over-month (m-o-m) increase of 15.17 percent. Total cement dispatches during October 2025 were 4.754 million tons against 4.490 million tons dispatched during the same month of the last fiscal year, reflecting a marginal growth of 5.87 percent.

In October 2025, North-based cement mills dispatched 3.525 million tons, showing an increase of 15.03% against 3.064 million tons dispatched in October 2024. South-based mills dispatched 1.23 million tons during October 2025, which was 13.81 percent less compared to 1.425 million tons in October 2024.

North-based cement mills dispatched 3.379 million tons to domestic markets in October 2025, showing an increase of 18.07 percent compared to 2.862 million tons in October 2024. South-based mills dispatched 547,661 tons in local markets during October 2025, almost equal to 547,611 tons in October 2024.

Exports from North-based mills dropped by 27.79 percent, as quantities reduced from 202,858 tons in October 2024 to 146,478 tons in October 2025. Exports from the South also fell by 22.43 percent to 680,903 tons in October 2025 from 877,833 tons during the same month last year.

North-based mills dispatched 11.739 million tons domestically during the first four months of the current fiscal year, showing an increase of 18.46 percent compared to 9.910 million tons during July–October 2024. Exports from the North also increased by 13.84 percent to 808,344 tons during July–October 2025 compared with 710,059 tons exported during the same period last year. Total dispatches by North-based mills rose by 18.15 percent to 12.547 million tons during the first four months of the current financial year, compared to 10.620 million tons during the same period of the last financial year.

Domestic dispatches by South-based mills during July–October 2025 were 2.110 million tons, showing an increase of 16.07 percent over 1.818 million tons dispatched during the same period of the last fiscal year. Exports from the South also increased marginally by 3.75 percent to 2.607 million tons during July–October 2025, compared with 2.513 million tons exported during the same period last year. Total dispatches by South-based mills increased by 8.92 percent to 4.718 million tons during the first four months of the current financial year, compared to 4.331 million tons during the same period of the last financial year.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025