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By APD writer Muhammad Sohail
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 6 (APD) – Pakistan’s total cement despatches increased by 12.3 percent despite low exports during the period of July-December 2017, local media reported on Saturday.
Local media quoted the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers’ Association (APCMA) as saying that the total despatches remained 22.24 million tonnes during the period, while the capacity utilization stood at 95 percent.
The country’s domestic consumption stood at 19.83 million tonnes, up 17.41 percent year-on-year.
A continuous decline in exports affected overall growth as the exports dropped 17.34 percent to 2.41 million tonnes during the period under review.
Cement units located in eastern Punjab and northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces despatched 16.45 million tonnes locally, showing an 18.12 percent jump over the same period a year ago. Units located in southern Sindh and southwest Balochistan province sold 3.38 million tonnes in local markets, up 14 percent year-on-year.
Exports from south-based mills took a major hit as they went down 36.23 percent to 0.61 million tonnes, while exports from north-based mills plunged 8 percent to 1.8 million tonnes.
An APCMA spokesman said that the fall in exports was caused by the high cost of doing business.
He added that regulators are ignoring malpractices in imports besides paying no attention to the plea of cement makers about a reduction in duties and taxes on exports.
The cement sector has witnessed a sales boom for the last four years, the official said, adding that it contributes a hefty amount to the national exchequer every year. However, he said, the government ignored the timely warnings by cement manufacturers about making policy changes to ensure sustained exports.
According to the available data, in December 2017, the industry’s total despatches increased by five percent from the corresponding month a year ago, but at the same time exports fell by 11.25 percent year-on-year to 0.33 million tonnes.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
