Pakistan cement dispatches in November fell six per cent compared to the previous month but cement prices have risen by four per cent since the start of the current fiscal.

Preliminary data shows that dispatches declined to 2.6Mt in November 2013 as the onset of winter hampers sales. However, on a YoY basis, sales were down by only two per cent.

Domestic demand is expected to have reached 2Mt, down three per cent MoM but up by three per cent on an annual comparative basis. Exports, however, are expected to have fallen 17 per cent YoY to 0.57Mt.

On a more positive note, domestic cement prices have continued their upward trend with a PKR20/bag increase being witnessed over the past five months, with further increments expected. Much of the price rise is to pass on the impact of an increase in general sales tax (GST), changes in the GST policy and rising power tariffs.