Cement Dispatches for October Declined by 5.87 Percent

Cement dispatches for October declined by 5.87 percent mainly due to a drastic decline of 20.59 percent in cement exports, while local dispatches show a marginal growth of 0.19 percent, according to official data on Monday. Revealing the data for the month of October, a spokesman for the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) said that cement industry dispatched 2.767 million tons of cement in October that was 5.87 percent less than the dispatches achieved in the corresponding month of 2011, ie, 2.939 million tons. In October, he said, the local cement dispatches was 2.086 million tons, up by 0.19 percent as compared to 2.082 million tons cement dispatched in October 2011. In the first four months of this fiscal year, total cement dispatches stood at 10.474 million tons, which is slightly higher than total dispatches of 10.436 million tons achieved during the corresponding period last year. The overall gain in dispatches is only 0.37 percent, he said. The capacity utilisation of the industry during July-October period stood at 70.19 percent, he said, adding that the cement exports continued their downward trend in October, as well, declining by 20.59 percent from the exports achieved in October 2011. Pakistan exports cement to Afghanistan, India and to other destinations through sea. During the period from July-October, exports to Afghanistan declined by 9.46 percent to 1.634 million tons. The exports to India, he said, declined by 37.51 percent to 0.158 million tons and exports to other destinations through sea increased by 2.34 percent to 1.161 million tons. Aizaz Mansoor Sheikh, chairman of APCMA, said hype created on trade with India has so far not been materialised and export in that market is well below the expectations of the cement sector. He said after opening of land route it is expected that the industry would be able to export more than five million tons cement to India. Sheikh appealed the government to engage the Indian government on a regular basis for the removal of non-trade barriers, which are hurting cement exports. He urged the government to boost the construction sector through prudent government policies and facilitation, resultantly, increase in cement dispatches triggers a chain growth in 42 allied industries. Source: uaecement