Pakistani research house Insight Securities forecasts that in FY18-19 (July 2018-June 2019), domestic sales will fall 5.6 per cent to 38.8Mt (-10.2 per cent in the north but a rise of +16.3 per cent in the south).

Exports, on the other hand, may grow 39 per cent to 6.6Mt (-21.9 per cent in the north, but +151.4 per cent in the south).

Analysts of Insight Securities have also pointed out that cement demand, which started weakening in March-June 2018 quarter is likely to move ahead further with expectations that this trend would continue in next three quarters, moving forward in FY20.