February 06, 2024 (MLN): Cement dispatches declined by 14.79% YoY in January 2024, as the total dispatches stood at 3.414m tons against 4.006m tons dispatched during the same month of last fiscal year, said a press release issued by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).
Local cement dispatches by the industry during January 2024 were 2.967m tons compared to 3.588m tons in January 2023, showing a decline of 17.3% YoY.
Exports dispatch, however, increased by 6.82% YoY as the volumes increased from 418,067 tons in January 2023 to 446,595 tons in January 2024.
In January 2024, North-based cement mills dispatched 2.434m tons of cement, showing a decline of 15.83% YoY against 2.892m tons of dispatches in January 2023.
South-based mills dispatched 979,970 tons of cement during January 2024, 12.08% YoY less than the dispatches of 1.115m tons during January 2023.
North-based cement mills dispatched 2.385m tons of cement in domestic markets in January 2024, showing a decline of 16.5% YoY against 2.856m tons of dispatches in the SPLY.
South-based mills dispatched 582,258 tons of cement in local markets during January 2024, which was 20.43% YoY less than the dispatches of 731,747 in January 2023.
Exports from North-based mills increased by 38.81% YoY as the quantities rose from 35,215 tons in January 2023 to 48,883 tons in January 2024.
Exports from the South slightly increased by 3.88% YoY to 397,712 tons in January 2024 from 382,852 tons during the same month last year.
During the first seven months of the current fiscal year, total cement dispatches (domestic and exports) were 27.296m tons, 5.92% YoY higher than the 25.770m tons dispatched last fiscal year.
Domestic dispatches during this period were 23.196m tons against 23.618m tons during the same period the previous year, showing a reduction of 1.79% YoY.
Export dispatches showed a healthy increase of 90.49% YoY as the volumes increased to 4.1m tons during 7MFY24 compared to 2.152m tons of exports during the last fiscal year.
North-based Mills dispatched 19.157m tons of cement domestically during the first seven months of the current fiscal year, showing a reduction of 1.14% YoY from cement dispatches of 19.378m tons from July 2022 to January 2023.
Exports from the North increased by 33.71% YoY to 820,056 tons from July 2023 to January 2024, compared with 613,289 tons exported during the SPLY.
Total dispatches by North-based Mills remained almost flat at 19.977m tons during the first seven months of the current financial year, down from 19.991m tons during the last financial year.
Domestic dispatches by South-based Mills from July 2023 to January 2024 were 4.039m tons, showing a reduction of 4.74% over 4.240m tons of cement dispatched during the same period of last fiscal year.
Exports from the South massively increased by 113.11% to 3.279m tons from July 2023 to January 2024, compared with 1.539m tons exported during the same period last year.
Total dispatches by South-based Mills increased by 26.65% YoY to 7.319m tons during the first seven months of the current financial year from 5.779m tons during the last financial year.
A spokesman of the APCMA urged about the serious implications of the new axle load regime due to which the loading capacity of vehicles is significantly reduced, leading to operational inefficiencies and increased inland transportation costs as well as freight, handling, and shipping costs for export consignments.
All these factors will pressure cement prices, likely resulting in high costs to domestic consumers and adverse effects on export fronts.
He added that the Association has repeatedly requested concerned quarters of the government to review the new axle load regulations and address the related industry concerns on priority.
Copyright Mettis Link News
Posted on:2024-02-06T13:41:28+05:00
43124
