LAHORE: The country has witnessed 8.07 per cent growth in domestic cement consumption in the month of May 2015, however, the exports declined by 26.13 per cent during the corresponding period.
According to a All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association spokesman, the cement industry in Pakistan is still operating below capacity despite almost 7.98 percent growth in the domestic consumption during the first 11 months of this fiscal.
The data released by APCMA reveals that cement industry dispatched 25. 492m tons of cement for domestic market during July-May period of this fiscal against 23.608 million tons dispatched during the corresponding period last year. It is worth noting that the overall exports from South registered an increase of 4.5 percent. These exports go through the sea.
However exports from North declined by 18.30 percent due to Iranian cement factor as exports from the North usually go to Afghanistan.
The spokesman said that the industry has been demanding level playing field from federal govt and has suggested some measures in the upcoming budget. Cement industry is subject to Federal Excise Duty at the rate of 5% of retail price and General Sales Tax at the rate of 17% of maximum retail price, which sums up to Rs.100 per bag approximately.
