Domestic cement despatches crossed 25 million tons in 2012-13 for the first time in Pakistan's history being 1.1 million tons higher than previous year's 23.95 million tons; however the stagnant exports marred the excellent performance of cement sector.
According to the data released by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association Pakistan (APCMA), the industry despatched 33.43 million tons of cement in 2012-13 out of which 25.06 million tons were consumed domestically while 8.37 million tons were exported. The total cement despatches, however, remained lower than the record despatches of 34.22 million tons witnessed in 2009-10, which was supported by exports of 10.65 million tons that year while the domestic consumption was 23.57 million tons. The exports in 2012-2013 remained stagnant to 8.37 million tons.
Meanwhile the data for the month of June 2013 revealed that the construction activities slowed down a bit as the new government settled down. The entrepreneurs were looking for the direction the new economic managers would issue. The domestic cement despatches declined from 2.29 million in June 2011-12 to 2.21 million ton in June 2012-13 depicting a decrease of 3.23 percent. The exports declined even more in June being 0.731 million ton in 2011-12 and 0.665 million tons in 2012-13 a decline of 8.97 percent.
A spokesman of APCMA said the surge in domestic demand was heartening for the cement manufacturers, adding that cement capacities were basically enhanced to cater to the domestic needs of the country. Cement exports, he said, were undertaken where it was even marginally feasible as the domestic demand did not rise due to economic recession.
He hoped that the current fiscal year would usher the cement sector to high productivity as the new government was giving due importance to infrastructure and accelerated economic growth, and said with proper planning and prudent economic policies, Pakistan had the capability to consume the entire installed capacity of 44.7 million tons of cement.