Pakistan's cement industry saw a growth 2.2 per cent in total dispatches in FY18-19, which reached to 46.88Mt from 45.89Mt during this period, says official data of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). The breakdown shows that out of total dispatches, local dispatches recorded a negative growth of two per cent, but export dispatches expanded by 37.7 per cent.

Dispatches from factories located in northern zone of Pakistan contracted during FY18-19. Local dispatches fell by 4.7 per cent to 32.36Mt and overseas by 18.1 per cent to 2.52Mt during this period.

Meanwhile, dispatches from factories located in southern zone increased by 11.2 per cent to 7.98Mt in FY19 and overseas by 140.8 per cent to 4.01Mt during this period, respectively.

The total export from Pakistan (northern and northern zones) stood at 6.53Mt during last financial year, representing a growth of 37.7 per cent. Dispatches to Afghanistan fell by 5.5 per cent to 1.72Mt and India by 41 per cent to 715,835t during this reporting period. 

However, export of cement to other overseas markets was increased by 14 per cent to 1.95Mt. The clinker export during this period was augmented by 100 per cent to reach to 2.14Mt. Export to India have been suspended from March 2019 up to the present day. Exports to Afghanistan have suffered due to number of factors.