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Arab News
03-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan's cement exports jump 29% but domestic demand remains weak
KARACHI: Pakistan's cement exports rose nearly 29% to 7.4 million tons in the first ten months of the current fiscal year, but overall despatches remained flat due to sluggish domestic demand, industry data showed on Saturday. Total cement despatches, domestic and exports combined, reached 37.336 million tons during the July 2024 to April 2025 period, just 0.32% lower than the same stretch last year, according to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). Domestic sales, however, dropped 5.55% to 29.978 million tons, while exports surged 28.77% from 5.714 million tons to 7.359 million tons. 'A healthy rise in exports this year is a good omen,' an APCMA statement said. 'However, the industry's resurgence was limited due to low domestic demand, leaving about one third of the industry capacity idle.' April 2025 data showed total cement despatches increased by 13.24% year-on-year to 3.342 million tons, driven by a 34.56% jump in exports and a modest 7.64% rise in local sales. The APCMA statement urged the government to announce industry-friendly measures in the upcoming budget to boost domestic construction activity and enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistani cement. Pakistan's cement industry has struggled in recent years with subdued domestic consumption due to economic headwinds and high construction costs, forcing manufacturers to increasingly rely on exports.
Arab News
03-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan's cement exports jump 29 percent but domestic demand remains weak
KARACHI: Pakistan's cement exports rose nearly 29 percent to 7.4 million tons in the first ten months of the current fiscal year, but overall despatches remained flat due to sluggish domestic demand, industry data showed on Saturday. Total cement despatches, domestic and exports combined, reached 37.336 million tons during the July 2024 to April 2025 period, just 0.32 percent lower than the same stretch last year, according to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA). Domestic sales, however, dropped 5.55 percent to 29.978 million tons, while exports surged 28.77 percent from 5.714 million tons to 7.359 million tons. 'A healthy rise in exports this year is a good omen,' an APCMA statement said. 'However, the industry's resurgence was limited due to low domestic demand, leaving about one third of the industry capacity idle.' April 2025 data showed total cement despatches increased by 13.24 percent year-on-year to 3.342 million tons, driven by a 34.56 percent jump in exports and a modest 7.64 percent rise in local sales. The APCMA statement urged the government to announce industry-friendly measures in the upcoming budget to boost domestic construction activity and enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistani cement. Pakistan's cement industry has struggled in recent years with subdued domestic consumption due to economic headwinds and high construction costs, forcing manufacturers to increasingly rely on exports.
Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
APCMA, cement cos: CAT asked to annul Rs6.35bn CCP penalty
ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has appealed the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) to annul Rs 6.35 billion penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on APCMA and cement companies on alleged price fixing and collusion. The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) heard the cement cartel case on Thursday, where Attorney Rashid Anwar, representing the APCMA, articulated his arguments and denied the accusations of price fixing and collusion. APCMA's legal representative submitted that there is a competitive landscape within the cement sector, characterised by differing prices. He described the CCP's decision against cement companies as unjust, pointing out that the Commission had imposed a significant fine on these firms in 2009, even while they were incurring losses. Cement makers: CCP keeps up efforts to combat cartelisation Rashid Anwar argued that the Competition Commission did not conduct a proper geographical analysis of cement companies. He said that the quota sharing agreement between the cement companies was signed in 2003 for two years, which had expired by the time the Commission's decision came. He argued that the CCP did not have reasonable grounds to raid the offices of the APCMA and its member companies. He requested the tribunal to invalidate the decision of the CCP. Later, the tribunal postponed the hearing of the case until May 22 following the conclusion of APCMA attorney's arguments. At the next tribunal session, attorneys representing different cement firms including former Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan, Yousuf Khosa, and Shahbaz Khosa, will put forth their arguments to the tribunal. Once they conclude, CCP's legal representatives will defend the Commission's ruling. It should be noted that the CCP had found evidence of alleged agreements and collusion concerning cement price determination (price fixing) involving the APCMA in 2009. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
24-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Cement body files appeal against Rs6.35b penalty
Although the current fiscal year has started on a promising note, the domestic despatches in July 2023 were approximately 20% lower than those in June 2023, said the APCMA spokesperson. photo: file Listen to article The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has filed an appeal with the Competition Appellate Tribunal, seeking the cancellation of Rs6.35 billion penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on the APCMA and cement companies in a case pertaining to alleged price fixing and collusion. The tribunal heard the case on Thursday, where Rashid Anwar, the counsel representing the APCMA, presented his arguments and dismissed the allegations. He emphasised that there was a competitive landscape within the cement sector, characterised by differing prices. He described the CCP's decision against cement companies as unjust and pointed out that the commission had also imposed a notable fine on cement firms in 2009, when they were incurring losses. Anwar argued that the CCP did not conduct a proper geographical analysis of the companies and the quota-sharing agreement between the companies had been signed in 2003 for two years only, which expired by the time the commission's decision came. He contended that the CCP did not have reasonable grounds to raid the offices of the APCMA and its member companies. He requested the tribunal to invalidate the CCP decision. The tribunal adjourned the hearing until May 22 following the conclusion of APCMA counsel's arguments. At the next hearing, the counsel representing different cement firms will put forth their arguments. Once they conclude, the CCP's legal representatives will defend the commission's ruling. Earlier, the CCP had found evidence of agreements and collusion concerning the cement price determination and involving the APCMA. Following a comprehensive probe, the CCP slapped a fine of Rs6.35 billion on 20 cement manufacturers and the APCMA.
Express Tribune
05-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Cement sales dip 9.48% in March
Listen to article According to the data released by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), local cement despatches by the industry during the month of March 2025 were 2.961 million tonnes compared to 3.338 million tonnes in March 2024, showing a decline of 11.31%. Export despatches were nearly unchanged at 608,614 tonnes in March 2025 compared to 605,142 tonnes in March 2024. Total cement despatches during March 2025 were 3.569 million tonnes against 3.944 million tonnes during the same month of last fiscal year, showing a decline of 9.48%. In March 2025, North-based cement mills despatched 2.450 million tonnes, showing a decline of 14.54% against 2.866 million tonnes in March 2024. South-based mills despatched 1.12 million tonnes during March 2025, marking a slight increase of 3.96% compared to 1.07 million tonnes in March 2024. North-based mills supplied 2.431 million tonnes to the domestic market in March 2025, an 11.33% decline compared to 2.742 million tonnes in March 2024. South-based mills despatched 529,750 tonnes locally during March 2025, down 11.23% from 596,751 tonnes in March 2024. Exports from North-based mills fell sharply by 85.15%, from 124,672 tonnes in March 2024 to just 18,508 tonnes in March 2025. However, exports from the South increased by 22.82%, reaching 590,106 tonnes in March 2025 compared to 480,470 tonnes in the same month last year. During the first nine months of the current fiscal year, total cement despatches (domestic and exports) stood at 33.993 million tonnes, 1.48% lower than 34.503 million tonnes during the same period last year. Domestic despatches during this period were 27.461 million tonnes compared to 29.403 million tonnes, reflecting a 6.61% decline. Export despatches, however, rose 28.08%, with volumes increasing to 6.532 million tonnes compared to 5.10 million tonnes in the same period last fiscal year. North-based mills despatched 22.791 million tonnes domestically during July-March 2025, down 5.96% from 24.236 million tonnes during the same period last year. Exports from the North increased by 7.76% to 1.12 million tonnes during July-March 2025, compared to 1.039 million tonnes last year. South-based mills despatched 4.669 million tonnes domestically during July-March 2025, down 9.63% from 5.167 million tonnes during the same period last fiscal year. Exports from the South increased by 33.28% to 5.419 million tonnes compared to 4.061 million tonnes. An APCMA spokesperson stated that cement is an essential commodity, providing employment to thousands and supporting allied industries. He expressed hope that the upcoming budget would include tax and duty reductions to improve affordability and stimulate domestic consumption.
