January 03, 2024 (MLN): Cement dispatches increased by 4.63% YoY in December 2023, as the total dispatches stood at 4.06 million tons against 3.881m 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 December 2023 were 3.536m tons compared to 3.676m tons in December 2022, showing a decline of 3.81% YoY.
Exports dispatch however increased by a massive 2.56x as the volumes jumped from 205,061 tons in December 2022 to 524,656 tons in December 2023.
In December 2023, north-based cement mills dispatched 3.012m tons of cement against 3.01m tons dispatches in December 2022, showing almost flat growth.
On the contrary, south-based mills dispatched 1.048m tons of cement during December 2023 which was 20.50% YoY higher compared to the dispatches of 0.87m tons during December 2022.
North-based cement mills dispatched 2.936m tons of cement in domestic markets in December 2023, showing a decline of 0.69% YoY against 2.956m tons dispatches in December 2022.
South-based mills dispatched 600,073 tons of cement in local markets during December 2023 which was 16.62% YoY less compared to the dispatches of 719,721 during December 2022.
Exports from north-based mills increased by 39.58% YoY as the quantities increased from 54,427 tons in December 2022 to 75,967 tons in December 2023.
Exports from the south also increased by a massive 2.98x YoY to 448,689 tons in December 2023 from 150,634 YoY tons during the same month last year.
During the first six months of the current fiscal year, total cement dispatches (domestic and exports) were 23.876m tons which is 9.71% YoY higher than the 21.764m tons dispatched during the corresponding period of last fiscal year.
Domestic dispatches during this period were 20.223m tons against 20.030m tons during the same period last year showing an increase of 0.97% YoY.
Export dispatches were substantially higher by 2.11x YoY as the volumes increased to 3.653m tons during the first six months of the current fiscal year compared to 1.734m tons of exports done during the same period of last fiscal year.
North-based mills dispatched 16.772m tons of cement domestically during the first six months of the current fiscal year showing an increase of 1.52% YoY from cement dispatches of 16.522m tons from July to December 2022.
Exports from the North increased by 33.4% YoY to 771,173 tons from July to December 2023 compared with 578,074 tons exported during the same period last year.
Total dispatches by North-based Mills increased by 2.59% YoY to 17.543m tons during the first six months of the current financial year from 17.1m tons during the same period of the last financial year.
Domestic dispatches by south-based mills from July to December 2023 were 3.451m tons showing a reduction of 1.62% YoY over 3.508m tons of cement dispatched during the same period of last fiscal year.
Exports from the South however substantially increased by 2.49x YoY to 2.882m tons during July to December 2023 compared with 1.156m tons exported during the same period last year.
Total dispatches by South-based Mills increased by 35.79% YoY to 6.333m tons during the first six months of the current financial year from 4.664m tons during the same period of last financial year.
A spokesman of the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association expressed serious concerns over the negative growth in domestic dispatches in the last four months.
"We are very hopeful that the government will speed up PSDP projects to increase cement demand and also give attention to our operational problems," he further said.
Two major issues currently being faced by the cement industry are related to the new Axle Load regime and Track and trace system.
We have approached the concerned functionaries and expect to get a positive response, he added.
Copyright Mettis Link News
Posted on:2024-01-03T13:06:12+05:00
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