Mansoor Sadiq

The local sales of cement witnessed a 24% year-on-year decline in March 2023. According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), the total volume of sales in March 2023 was recorded at 3.795 million tons compared to 5 million tons during the corresponding month of 2022. Owing to reduced construction activity in the country, local sales were recorded at 3.356 million tons in March 2023 compared to 4.710 million tons sold in March 2022, a decline of 24.19%.

During the period under review, the ratio of exports for the cement sector increased by 48.46%, from 295,321 tons in March 2022 to 438,433 tons in March 2023. As per data from APCMA, the sales of North-based cement mills were recorded at 2.82 million tons, demonstrating a fall of 28.22% against 3.929 million tons in March 2022. The volume of sales of South-based mills was recorded at 974,467 tons in March 2023, down by 9.48% compared to the sales of 1.076 million tons in March 2022.

The volume of exports from North-based cement mills increased by 24.63%, from 80,584 tons in March 2022 to 100,431 tons in March 2023. Exports from South-based cement mills also increased by 57.40% to 338,002 tons in March 2023 from 214,737 tons during the corresponding month of last year. During the first nine months (July-March) of the current fiscal year (2022-23), total cement sales (domestic and exports) stood at 33.6 million tons, down by 17.59% compared to the sales of 40.769 million tons during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

A spokesman for APCMA said that construction activities in both the Northern and Southern regions of the country have significantly decreased during the last few months, which is an alarming situation for the industry in the shape of drying up of employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled labour attached to the construction sector. The spokesperson said that economic stability comes after political stability, adding that the prevailing uncertain political situation has put a halt to the construction sector in the country, resulting in decreased sales of cement in comparison to the figures of the previous fiscal year. He added that the uncertain political situation has affected all industrial sectors, and the cement sector is no exception.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk