Karachi, July 4, 2023 – The cement industry experienced a significant decline in despatches, with a decrease of 22.80% in June 2023 compared to the same month last year. The total cement despatches for June 2023 amounted to 4.063 million tons, down from 5.264 million tons in June of the previous fiscal year.
Data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association revealed that local cement despatches in June 2023 reached 3.487 million tons, showing a decline of 29.97% compared to 4.979 million tons in June 2022. On the other hand, export despatches increased by 102.59%, with volumes rising from 284,471 tons in June 2022 to 576,309 tons in June 2023.
In June 2023, cement mills in the northern region despatched 2.950 million tons, indicating a decline of 30.08% compared to 4.220 million tons despatched in June 2022. Meanwhile, mills in the southern region despatched 1.113 million tons, representing a 6.60% increase from the 1.044 million tons despatched in June 2022.
The domestic market in the northern region received 2.855 million tons of cement in June 2023, reflecting a decline of 30.75% compared to 4.122 million tons despatched in June 2022. In the southern region, domestic despatches amounted to 632,093 tons in June 2023, which was 26.23% lower than the 856,863 tons despatched in June 2022. Exports from the northern region decreased by 1.88%, with quantities dropping from 97,163 tons in June 2022 to 95,333 tons in June 2023. However, exports from the southern region increased by 156.78% to 480,976 tons in June 2023, up from 187,308 tons during the same month last year.
During the fiscal year 2022-23, the total cement despatches (domestic and exports) amounted to 44.579 million tons, reflecting a 15.71% decrease compared to the 52.891 million tons despatched in the previous fiscal year. Domestic despatches accounted for 40.013 million tons, down 16.00% from 47.635 million tons in the previous year. Export despatches also declined by 13.13%, with volumes reducing to 4.566 million tons during the fiscal year 2022-23, compared to 5.256 million tons in the previous fiscal year.
Cement mills in the northern region despatched 32.776 million tons domestically during the fiscal year 2022-23, marking a 16.89% reduction from the 39.439 million tons despatched in the previous fiscal year. Exports from the northern region increased by 17.41% to 1.069 million tons during the fiscal year 2022-23, compared to 911,065 tons in the previous fiscal year. The total despatches by mills in the northern region decreased by 16.12% to 33.846 million tons in the fiscal year 2022-23, down from 40.350 million tons in the previous fiscal year.