LAHORE: The country’s cement sector witnessed 31.54 per cent decline as 566,689 metric tons cement was exported in August 15 against 827,707 metric tons was exported in the same month of year 2014.
According to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association, the exports from North zone were 349,873 metric tons while exports from South zone were 216,815 metric tons. If the combined dispatches of first two months of current fiscal are analyzed, exports to Afghanistan declined by 18.24 percent to 394,500 metric tons compared to 482,528 metric tons during July and August 2014 while exports to India showed substantial reduction to 100,437 metric tons during July and August, 2015 against 140,131 metric tons during same months last year i.e. downfall of more than 28 percent.
A spokesman of APCMA said that the exports to Afghanistan are gradually drying due to inroads made by the Iranian cement. In fact, he added the Iranian cement is also penetrating Pakistani markets on the strength of massive under invoicing that remains unchecked. He added that domestic uptake is a good sign for the industry however the decline in exports should be taken seriously.
