Cement Dispatches decline in August

 

Cement Dispatches decline

 

Karachi, September 05: A spokesman of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association said that in the first two months of current fiscal the dispatches of cement have declined by almost five percent. In August 2013, total despatches of cement were 2.251 million tons against 2.283 million tons during the same month of last year.

Exports from North declined from 0.512 million tons in August 2012 to 0.438 million tons in August 2013. Domestic cement market in the North registered a little increase with dispatches of 1.312 million tons in August 2013 against 1.287 million tons during the same month last year.

Local cement despatches in South declined by 11.65% while exports increased by 15.48%. The exports from South in August 2012 were 0.188 million tons that increased to 0.239 million tons in August 2013. Local sales during the same period declined from 0.296 million tons to 0.239 million tons.

Overall decline in exports in the first two months of this fiscal was 1.97% as 1.426 million tons of cement was exported in the first two months of 2013-14 against 1.455 million tons in the first two months of 2012-13.

The recent increase in power tariff and fuel prices had increased the input and transportation costs putting more pressure on manufacturers.

Cement manufacturers are quite hopeful that by the end of monsoon season, domestic cement consumption shall increase as construction activities will start taking place.