Pakistan cement shows a growth of 3.43% in 5MFY 2013

Pakistan cement manufacturers and exporters during 5MFY 2013 showed a growth of 3.43% to raise total cement dispatches to 13.127Mt from 12.691Mt during the corresponding period of last year. The breakdown showed that local dispatches increased to 6.78% (9.484Mt), but exports declined by 4.38% (3.642Mt).

However, in November alone, Pakistan's cement industry showed a growth of 17.47% on a YoY basis to driving total dispatches up to 2.649Mt, but they fell by 4.23% if compared with October data of 2.766Mt.

Pakistan exported 2.06Mt cement to Afghanistan (a fall of 3.6%) and 183,387t to India (a fall of 38.5%) but export to other destinations by sea increased 1.85% to 1.395Mt in 5MFY 2013.

According to All Pakistan Cement Manufactures Association (APCMA), the decline in exports to India continues unabated where the uptake of Pakistani cement reduced by 38.5% during the first five months of this fiscal ­ mainly due to non-tax barriers.

Market analysts term the current domestic market situation encouraging as during past five months of this fiscal year, the local consumption has increased in four months and declined only in August by 3.41%. The local uptake of the commodity increased in two months out of five during this fiscal by over 19%. This is the first time it posted over 19% growth was in September 2012 and the second time in November 2012.