Pakistan’s October exports fall but 4MFY12-13 exports see rising value

Pakistan’s cement producers recorded a fall in cement exports to 741,782t at US$43.68m when compared with the September figure of 745,237t at US$54.96, declines of 0.46% and 20.53%, respectively. On a YoY basis, export volumes fell 19.4% from 920,375t and 12.54% from US$49.948m in October 2011.

In the first four months July-October of FY12-13, Pakistan exported 2.641Mt of cement and earned US$190m. This represents a 14.2% fall in volumes but a 17.3% rise in value compared with the 2011 equivalent period, when the export figures reached US$161.97m and 3.078Mt, respectively, according to data released by Pakistan’s Federal Bureau of Statistics. In terms of Pakistani currency, exports increased 28%.

The average export price of cement advanced 36.7% to US$71.92/t in 4MFY13 from US$52.61/t in 4MFY12.

The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) said during the first four months, exports to Afghanistan fell by 9.46% to 1.634Mt while shipments to India were cut 37.51% to 0.158Mt.

APCMA chairman said that Aizaz Mansoor Sheikh said the hype created on Pakistan-India trade has so far not translated into firmer sales and export to the neighbouring country is well below the expectations of the cement sector. He added that after the opening of the land route, cross-border cement trade is forecast amount to more than 5Mt. It is expected that Pakistan will officially declare India as most-favoured nation by the end of the year, a move that would hopefully impact positively on Pakistani cement exports to India.