en.Wedoany.com Reported - According to data released by Topline Pakistan Research, the cement sector on the Pakistan Stock Exchange achieved a profit of PKR 36.2 billion in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 7% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 4%. The improved performance was primarily driven by expanded dispatches and better pricing. Cumulative profit for the first nine months of the fiscal year reached PKR 108 billion, a 17% increase compared to the same period last year.

Net sales during the period grew 14% year-on-year to PKR 190 billion, but declined 4% compared to the previous quarter, bringing total sales for the first nine months to PKR 575 billion, an increase of 9%. Domestic dispatches rose 4% year-on-year to 10.1 million tons, while exports surged 35% to 2.3 million tons, mainly driven by seaborne shipments from southern cement plants. The average retail price for bagged cement was PKR 1,417 per bag in the northern region and PKR 1,451 per bag in the southern region.

Gross margins improved slightly to 30.1% in the third quarter, compared to 29.6% in the same period last year; however, the cumulative gross margin for the first nine months fell to 30.4% from 31.2% in the prior year. Due to supply disruptions on the Afghanistan route, cement companies' reliance on Richards Bay coal increased, causing coal prices to rise 16% quarter-on-quarter to USD 98.95 per ton.

Other income decreased 21% year-on-year to PKR 12 billion, but grew 36% quarter-on-quarter, benefiting from dividend inflows from Lucky Cement. Finance costs fell 20% year-on-year to PKR 5 billion, primarily driven by a reduction in debt levels and lower interest rates. (By Abdul Rab Siddiqi, Pakistan)

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