Cement price increase in north Pakistan

Cement retail prices in northern Pakistan have increased by PKR10/bag (US$0.09), due to increase in demand, high capacity utilisation (close to 100 per cent in the north) and increase in coal prices, says a report of a local research house.
 
As a result, retail prices in Punjab have now risen to PKR515/bag (US$4.6/bag) while those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) are now back to PKR500.

Analyst discussions with the management of cement companies suggest that they want to gradually increase prices with another hike of PKR10/bag, expected from next week. This compares to the highs of PKR560/bag (recorded in Jul-17) in the north, cement prices had gradually come off by PKR50-70, with the bulk of the declines recorded in KPK region.