Pakistan: capacity utilisation tops 90% in December 2016

According to figures released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), cement sales in December 2016 reached 3.56Mt, with capacity utilisation running at 90.9 per cent, the Nation newspaper reports.

The first six months of Pakistan’s 2017 fiscal year, which began in June 2016, has seen local cement consumption rise by 11.1 per cent on the same period in 2015.

Declining export sales have been more than matched by rising local demand, with the result that total shipments were 8.65 per cent up for the first six months of FY17, reaching 19.8Mt.

In December 2016 exports declined by 19 per cent to 0.37Mt, while domestic sales were up 6.74 per cent at 3.19Mt.

The sector in Pakistan is currently investing in capacity expansion in anticipation of continued strong growth in domestic demand. The current installed capacity of 46Mta is set to increase to 72Mta in the next few years.