en.Wedoany.com Reported - Pakistan's cement despatches saw a significant decline in May 2026. Data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) showed that total cement despatches in May 2026 stood at 3.84 million tons, down 21.02% from 4.86 million tons in the same period of the previous fiscal year. Domestic cement despatches amounted to 3.205 million tons, lower than 3.87 million tons in May 2025, a decrease of 17.17%. Export despatches also fell from 989,434 tons in May 2025 to 632,648 tons, a drop of 36.06%.
By region, northern cement plants despatched 2.66 million tons in May 2026, down 22% from 3.41 million tons in May 2025. Southern cement plants despatched 1.18 million tons in the same period, down 18.70% from 1.452 million tons in May 2025. Northern cement plants despatched 2.657 million tons to the domestic market, down 16.05% from 3.17 million tons in May 2025; southern cement plants despatched 547,528 tons to the local market, down 22.21% from 703,827 tons in May 2025. In May 2026, northern cement plants had no export operations; exports from southern cement plants fell from 747,856 tons in the same month last year to 632,648 tons, a decrease of 15.41%.
On a cumulative basis, total cement despatches (including domestic and export) for the first 11 months of the current fiscal year reached 46.26 million tons, up 6.44% from 43.46 million tons in the same period of the previous fiscal year. During this period, domestic despatches were 38.01 million tons, higher than 35.11 million tons in the same period last year, an increase of 8.26%. However, export despatches fell 1.21% to 8.24 million tons, compared to 8.34 million tons in the same period of the previous fiscal year. In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, northern cement plants despatched 31.689 million tons domestically, up 9.49% from 28.943 million tons from July 2024 to May 2025; their exports fell from 1.48 million tons in the same period last year to 797,431 tons, a decrease of 45.98%; total despatches increased from 30.419 million tons to 32.49 million tons, up 6.80%. Southern cement plants, from July 2025 to May 2026, despatched 6.32 million tons domestically, up 2.47% from 6.17 million tons in the same period of the previous fiscal year; exports increased from 6.869 million tons in the same period last year to 7.45 million tons, up 8.41%; total despatches rose from 13.04 million tons to 13.77 million tons, up 5.60%.
A spokesperson for the APCMA commended Pakistan's ongoing efforts to ease geopolitical tensions and promote peace in the Middle East, and expressed optimism about the upcoming federal budget, hoping that policies would support local industries and address their operational bottlenecks. Usama Rauf of AKD Research analyzed that the year-on-year decline in despatches was mainly due to the Eid al-Fitr holidays and the suspension of new projects, with rising transportation costs hindering construction activities. Additionally, rising sea freight rates caused by the Middle East conflict have also suppressed exports.
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