LAHORE: Cement exports from Pakistan in December 2017 fell 11.3 per cent to 328,000 tonnes from 369,000 tonnes in the year-ago period, according to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers’ Association (APCMA).
Between July-December 2017, cement exports declined by 17.3 per cent from 2.911 million tonnes to 2.406 million tonnes. Exports from southern-based mills were particularly affected as they were reduced by 36.2 per cent from 0.953 million tonnes in July 2016 to 0.608 million tonnes in July-December 2017. Northern mills saw their exports decline by 8.1 per cent to 1.799 million tonnes from 1.958 million tonnes in July-December 2016.
Industry sources said that exports have been affected by the high cost of doing business but also by high duties and taxes on exports, eroding the domestic industry’s ability to compete in the global market.
