Cement production has increased by 18.76 percent in the last four months, (July-October-2004) but the production of iron and steel has dropped. Production data of four months shows that cast iron or rolled billet dropped by 25.62 percent, and galvanised products dropped by 10.56 percent.
However, the pig iron output increased by 1.41 percent, HR coils and plates by 8.96 percent, and CR coils by 12.96 percent.
Cement production indicates higher use, but decline in iron and steel production indicates that housing sector did not take off as per expectations of the government. Industry sources said that higher cement production was because of its export to Afghanistan.
Auto industry was still on higher side as production of cars increased by 30.66 percent, Jeeps by 91.74 percent, LCVs by 66.52 percent, buses by 55.64 percent, tractors by 32.24 percent, and motorcycle by 46.47 percent, while the production of trucks declined by 9.54 percent.
Production of cotton yarn slightly decreased, by 0.10 percent. Cotton cloth, mill and non-mill, increased by 13.58 percent.
Production of fertilizer increased by 4.17 percent while production of diammonia phosphate rose by 289.91 percent. Fertilizer phosphatic increased by 118.56 percent.