APCMA records lowest dip in cement sales in last 9 months
8-5-2023
Islamabad: All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has recorded the lowest level of cement sales in 9 months, a news source reported on May 4. According to the statistics shared by the association, there was a decline of 16.55% in cement sales in April 2023 compared to the sales recorded in the same month last year. Read: APCMA records drop in cement demand during February, shares statistics The total cement dispatches during the month of April 2023 was 2.951 million tons in comparison to 3.536 million tons registered during the same month last year. JS Global stated it as the lowest level of dispatches recorded in 9 months. The data shared by APCMA revealed that the local cement shipments by the industry in April showed a decrease of 25.13% in comparison dispatches recorded in the same month last year. The north-based cement mills dispatched 2.193 million tons of cement in April 2023, which showed a decline of 23.54% against 2.868 million tons of dispatches recorded during the same month last year. While the dispatches from south-based cement mills were 0.758 million tons in April, which was 13.44% more than last year’s dispatched of 0.669 million. Read: Cement sector registers mild growth in Jan 23 Moreover, the north-based cement mills dispatched 2.109 tons of cement in the domestic markets in April 2023, which showed a decline of 24.85% against 2.806 million tons dispatches made in during April 2022. Whereas the south-based cement mills dispatched 422,071 tons of cement in local markets in April 2023 in comparison to 573,975 tons of cement in April 2022, which marked a decrease of 26.47%. On the other hand, the exports from both north-based and south-based cement mills increased. The exports from north-based mills increased by 35.93% in April 2023 in comparison to April 2022 and the south-based cement mills exports increased by 255.49% during the same period. Read: Cement, steel prices rise amid low construction activity An APCMA spokesperson mentioned that the current economic turmoil has adversely affected cement consumption and the government must take necessary steps to improve the condition for the construction sector and allied industries.