Pakistan cement sales are expected to increase by six per cent YoY in September 2013 on the back of a rise in domestic demand.

Dispatches are forecast to climb to 2.76Mt for the month compared to 2.61Mt in the same period of last year. Local sales are seen rising 11 per cent YoY to 1.98Mt, according to estimates by InvestCap. The south is anticipated to have grown 32 per cent on a YoY basis mainly due to a boom in construction activity. The region has also experienced two months of heavy rains as well as limited government infrastructure spending.

Exports, however, are expected to see a five per cent decline in September as local producers focus on domestic markets where prices are also seeing impressive gains and were up 5.4 per cent.

However, first quarter dispatches (July-September 2013) are seen dipping slightly by 1.2 per cent YoY due to a prolonged monsoon season.