North cement exports fall to zero

LAHORE: North-based cement mills recorded no exports in October 2026, against 114,082 tonnes a year earlier, as total industry despatches edged up 0.37% to 4.810 million tonnes, according to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association. Local despatches rose 1.17% to 4.041 million tonnes from 3.994 million tonnes, while export despatches declined 3.67% to 768,754 tonnes from 798,019 tonnes. Total despatches by North-based mills fell 3.13% to 3.397 million tonnes from 3.507 million tonnes, while South-based mills despatched 1.41 million tonnes, up 9.90% from 1.29 million tonnes. The identical domestic and total figures for the north reflect the absence of exports, which had amounted to 114,082 tonnes in October last year. North-based mills despatched 3.397 million tonnes into local markets, up 0.13% from 3.393 million tonnes. South-based mills despatched 643,816 tonnes locally in October, up 7.05% from 601,401 tonnes, and exported 768,754 tonnes, up 12.40% from 683,937 tonnes. During the first four months of the current fiscal year, total despatches were 17.953 million tonnes, 2.93% higher than 17.442 million tonnes a year earlier. Domestic despatches rose 5.93% to 14.889 million tonnes from 14.055 million tonnes during the period, while exports fell 9.51% to 3.064 million tonnes from 3.387 million tonnes. North-based mills despatched 12.344 million tonnes domestically in the four months, up 4.87% from 11.770 million tonnes, but total despatches fell 1.61% to 12.344 million tonnes from 12.546 million tonnes after exports of 775,948 tonnes a year earlier were not repeated. South-based mills despatched 2.545 million tonnes domestically, up 11.36% from 2.285 million tonnes, while exports rose 17.38% to 3.064 million tonnes from 2.611 million tonnes. Total despatches by South-based mills increased 14.57% to 5.610 million tonnes from 4.896 million tonnes. In the four months, exports from South-based mills reached 3.064 million tonnes against 2.611 million tonnes a year earlier, while the north, which had exported 775,948 tonnes in the same period last year, recorded no exports.