KARACHI: After remaining stagnant for two months, domestic cement consumption rebounded in September, exhibiting an 18.9 percent increase against the same month last year.
Thanks to cement exports, the cement sector registered 18.9 percent growth in September, reports Express Tribune.
A spokesman for the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) said the cement industry sold 3.806 million tons last months compared to dispatches of 3.201 million tons last September.
During last month, the domestic cement sales in the southern region rose 48.81 percent or 0.641 million tons against 0.431 million tons in the same month of last year.
Domestic cement sales in the northern region posted a growth of 3.45 percent or 2.45 million tons against 2.369 million tons in September last year.
Southern region exports clocked at 0.421 million tons or 350.92 percent surge against 0.093 million tons in September last year.
Northern region exports declined by 4.69 percent or 0.294 million tons compared to 0.308 million tons in September 2017.
During the quarter of July-September 2018, cement units sold 10.813 million tons, rising by 4.48 percent compared to 10.349 million tons dispatched in the corresponding period of 2017.
The rise posted during the first quarter of FY19 was lower than the high growth trajectory maintained by the industry in the last five years.
However, growth during July-September 2017 was unable to match the production capacity growth during FY19.
According to data, the cement industry utilized 79.75 percent of its capacity during the 1st quarter of FY19 against average capacity utilization of 87 percent in the last three years.
The spokesman said, “These mills remained under immense pressure in the first quarter. They dispatched 7.151 million tons of cement during the three-month period, which was 4.94% less than sales of 7.523 million tons in the same period of the previous year.”
Northern region exports plunged by 21.58 percent to 0.747 million tons against 0.953 million tons in the first quarter of the preceding year.
Interestingly, the cement mills in the south saw domestic consumption rising during the 1st quarter of 2018 by 21.51 percent to 1.870 million tons against 1.539 million tons in the same period last year.
Southern region exports also surged by a gigantic 212.13 percent to 1.044 million tons against 0.334 million during July-September 2017.
