Pakistan Cement Industry Growth Hits 16% in Q1

Pakistan’s cement industry has started the new financial year on a strong note, recording a sharp rise in both local sales and exports.

According to fresh data from the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), total cement despatches for July to September 2025 reached 12.161 million tons, a 16.25% increase compared to the 10.461 million tons sold in the same period last year.

Local Market Demand Stays Strong

Domestic sales were the main driver of growth. Cement sold inside Pakistan climbed to 9.573 million tons, up 15.08% from 8.319 million tons a year earlier.

The demand came mainly from housing, infrastructure, and industrial projects.

Exports also jumped, rising 20.81% to 2.589 million tons, as producers found new buyers in Afghanistan, East Africa, and the Gulf region.

Month-to-Month Performance

The industry’s performance was steady across all three months.

July 2025: Sales jumped 31.24% year-over-year.
August 2025: Growth continued at 13.47%.
September 2025: Sales rose 7.05%, with total despatches at 4.250 million tons, up from 3.970 million tons in September 2024.

Local sales in September alone hit 3.418 million tons, up 14.38%. However, exports slowed that month, falling 15.25% to 831,966 tons due to high shipping costs and volatile international demand.

Regional Breakdown: North Leads, South Struggles

North-based cement mills, which produce the majority of Pakistan’s supply, showed strong growth.

September 2025 despatches: 3.162 million tons, up 16.41%.
Local sales: 2.941 million tons, up 17.02%.
Exports: 221,252 tons, up 8.84%.

South-based mills, which rely more on exports, had mixed results.

September 2025 despatches: 1.09 million tons, down 13.23%.
Local sales: 476,465 tons, almost flat with last year.
Exports: 610,714 tons, down 21.54% due to weak foreign demand and freight challenges.

First Quarter Totals: North Dominates, South Recovers

For the full quarter:

North region:
- Domestic sales: 8.010 million tons, up 13.65%.
- Exports: 661,866 tons, up 30.49%.
- Total: 8.672 million tons, up 14.78%.
South region:
- Domestic sales: 1.562 million tons, up 22.99%.
- Exports: 1.926 million tons, up 17.80%.
- Total: 3.489 million tons, up 20.07%.

Industry Calls for Government Support

An APCMA spokesman said the cement sector could do even better with government support.

“We can achieve stronger growth if the government reduces duties and taxes, which will also help consumers,” he said.

He added that huge amounts of cement will be needed for flood reconstruction and infrastructure projects, making timely government support crucial for the industry.