Cement sales in Pakistan saw a positive trend in February 2025, according to the latest data from the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). The industry reported a total of 3.065 million tons of cement sold locally, marking a 6.82% increase compared to 2.869 million tons in February 2024. This growth is a positive sign after months of sluggish demand.
Domestic Cement Sales Growth
Domestic cement sales had shown a strong 11.64% month-over-month (MoM) increase in January 2025, but February’s growth remained moderate. The total cement despatches, which include both local sales and exports, reached 3.596 million tons in February 2025, up 10.15% from 3.265 million tons in February 2024.
The cement sector is divided into North-based and South-based mills:
- North-based cement mills sold 2.556 million tons in February 2025, an increase of 5.06% from the 2.433 million tons sold in February 2024.
- South-based cement mills had a stronger performance, with 1.04 million tons sold, which is 25.04% more than the 0.831 million tons sold in February 2024.
In terms of local sales, North-based mills sold 2.507 million tons, a 7.22% rise from 2.338 million tons in February 2024. South-based mills sold 557,895 tons, which is 5.06% higher than 531,044 tons in February 2024.
Cement Exports See a Strong Increase
While local sales showed moderate growth, exports saw a major boost. The total exports increased by 34.30%, reaching 531,736 tons in February 2025, compared to 395,935 tons in February 2024.
However, exports varied by region:
- North-based mills saw a 47.82% drop, with exports falling from 95,393 tons in February 2024 to 49,780 tons in February 2025.
- South-based mills, on the other hand, saw a 60.36% surge, exporting 481,956 tons in February 2025, compared to 300,542 tons in February 2024.
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Cement Sales Performance in the First Eight Months of FY25
From July 2024 to February 2025, total cement despatches (domestic + exports) were 30.423 million tons, slightly lower than the 30.560 million tons recorded in the same period last year, showing a 0.45% decline.
- Domestic sales during this period dropped by 6.00%, falling from 26.06 million tons to 24.5 million tons.
- Exports, however, increased by 31.78%, rising to 5.924 million tons compared to 4.495 million tons during the same period last year.
Regional Cement Despatches
- North-based mills: Sold 20.36 million tons locally, down 5.28% from 21.49 million tons in the previous year. Exports increased by 20.42%, reaching 1.101 million tons. Total despatches dropped 4.23% to 21.462 million tons from 22.410 million tons.
- South-based mills: Domestic sales fell by 9.42% to 4.139 million tons from 4.570 million tons last year. However, exports from the South rose by 34.68%, reaching 4.822 million tons compared to 3.580 million tons last year. Total cement despatches from the South increased 9.96% to 8.962 million tons from 8.150 million tons.
Future Outlook for the Cement Industry
The cement industry plays a vital role in Pakistan’s economy, supporting various sectors such as construction and infrastructure development. A spokesperson from APCMA expressed optimism for government support in the upcoming budget. Policies favoring the sector can further boost demand, enhance production capacity, and support economic growth.
As construction projects continue and export demand rises, cement manufacturers remain hopeful for steady growth in the coming months.
Read Also: Pakistan Textile Exports Show Strong Growth in December 2024!
