LAHORE: Cement sales rose 57.44 percent to 3.212 million tonnes in July 2023 from 2.040 million tonnes in the corresponding month of last fiscal, data showed on Thursday.
According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), cement manufacturers sold 2.776 million tonnes in the domestic market during July, up 47.15 percent from 1.887 million tonnes in July 2022. shows an increase.
Exports also grew by a massive 183.91%, as volumes increased from 153,517 tonnes in July 2022 to 435,854 tonnes in July 2023.
A region-wise breakdown shows that north-based cement makers shipped 2.473 million tonnes in July 2022, up 46.54 percent from 1.688 million tonnes shipped in July 2022.
Units in the south sold 739,376 tonnes of cement during July 2023, which was 109.61% higher than the 352,747 tonnes sold during July 2022.
Locally, factories in the north sold 2.351 million tonnes of cement in July 2023, up 45.37% from the 1.617 million tonnes sold in July 2022. Similarly, the units located in the south sent 425,336 tonnes of cement to the local markets during July 2023, which was 45578% higher than July 2023. Shipments of 269,477 tonnes during July 2022.
A breakdown of export data revealed that manufacturers from the North shipped 121,814 tonnes abroad in July 2023, up 73.41% from 70,247 tonnes in July 2022.
Exports from the South also saw a huge increase of 277.13 percent to 314,040 tonnes in July 2023 as against 83,270 tonnes during the same month last year.
APCMA spokesperson asserted that the country’s economic stability depends on a stable government.
He said that although the start of the current financial year looks promising compared to last year, the fact remains that domestic remittances in July 2023 were about 20 percent lower than in June 2023.
“So, compared to last month, there was a decrease,” he added. He also expressed concern over the increase in production cost.
He said that the provincial government has increased the royalty rate from Rs 115 per ton to Rs 250 per ton.
The spokesman added that the price of electricity has also been increased by about Rs 7.5 per unit, while the recent increase in fuel price by Rs 20 per liter has further affected the cost of freight.
However, he was positive that this financial year will be better for the sector due to expected investment in large-scale projects.
