Cement Sales Surge 16% in First Quarter of FY26

Pakistan’s cement industry posted double-digit growth in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, with total dispatches, both domestic and export, rising 16.25% year-on-year to 12.161 million tonnes, according to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). The sector had dispatched 10.461 million tonnes in the same period last year. Domestic sales led the charge, climbing 15.08% to 9.573 million tonnes, up from 8.319 million tonnes a year earlier. Export volumes also saw a healthy uptick, increasing 20.81% to 2.589 million tonnes compared to 2.143 million tonnes in the first quarter of the previous fiscal year. Monthly data shows the momentum was strongest at the start of the quarter, with dispatches surging 31.24% month-on-month in July 2025 and 13.47% in August. Growth moderated in September, with a 7.05% year-on-year increase as total dispatches reached 4.25 million tonnes, up from 3.97 million tonnes in September 2024. Breaking down the September figures, local dispatches stood at 3.418 million tonnes, a 14.38% increase from 2.988 million tonnes last year. However, export dispatches for the month slipped 15.25% to 831,966 tonnes, down from 981,646 tonnes in September 2024. Regionally, north-based cement mills continued to dominate, dispatching 3.162 million tonnes in September—up 16.41% from 2.717 million tonnes a year earlier. South-based mills, by contrast, saw dispatches fall 13.23% to 1.09 million tonnes from 1.253 million tonnes last year. Within the domestic market, north-based mills supplied 2.941 million tonnes in September, a 17.02% jump from 2.513 million tonnes in 2024. South-based mills managed a marginal increase, dispatching 476,465 tonnes locally, up just 0.41% from 474,528 tonnes last year. On the export front, north-based mills recorded an 8.84% rise to 221,252 tonnes in September, while exports from the south dropped sharply by 21.54% to 610,714 tonnes, compared to 778,366 tonnes in September 2024. For the July-September quarter, north-based mills dispatched 8.010 million tonnes domestically, up 13.65% from 7.048 million tonnes a year earlier. Their exports surged 30.49% to 661,866 tonnes. Total dispatches from the north increased 14.78% to 8.672 million tonnes. South-based mills also posted strong growth, with domestic dispatches rising 22.99% to 1.562 million tonnes and exports up 17.8% to 1.926 million tonnes. Total dispatches from the south climbed 20.07% to 3.489 million tonnes. An APCMA spokesperson said the industry’s performance could be even stronger if the government provided relief on duties and taxes, which would ultimately benefit consumers. “Significant rehabilitation work is required following the devastating floods, and we expect cooperation from the government,” the spokesperson added.