Total sales of cement during the first quarter of the current fiscal reached 4.474Mt showing a growth of 9.3 percent over the corresponding period last year when the total sales amounted to 4.093Mt.
The exports of cement during the quarter registered a decline by 3.39 per cent over the corresponding period last year whereas domestic demand grew by 10.85 per cent, the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), said.
During the period under review overall capacity utilisation increased to 92.15 per cent from an expanded capacity base made available by optimisation of production capability undertaken by several plants, APCMA sources said.
High energy and transportation costs have led to a price hike in this commodity in the international markets and it will be a real challenge to maintain cement prices at the current levels in view of the sharp increases in the cost of production and transportation.
