Pakistan’s cement industry got off to a strong start in 2026, with total cement dispatches rising 12.54 percent year-on-year in January, largely driven by a sharp rebound in exports, data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) showed.
Total dispatches stood at 4.538 million tonnes in January, compared with 4.032 million tonnes in the same month last year. While domestic demand showed only moderate improvement, exports provided the biggest lift, highlighting the sector’s growing reliance on overseas markets amid uneven local construction activity.
Local cement sales increased by 4.36 percent to 3.601 million tonnes, up from 3.45 million tonnes a year earlier. Export volumes, however, surged 61.1 percent to 937,097 tonnes from 581,691 tonnes in January 2025.
On a regional basis, North-based mills dispatched 2.95 million tonnes, posting a 4.67 percent increase from 2.818 million tonnes last year. South-based mills recorded much stronger growth, with total dispatches jumping 30.82 percent to 1.59 million tonnes, largely supported by higher exports.
In domestic markets, northern mills performed better, with local dispatches rising 6.93 percent to 2.95 million tonnes. By contrast, domestic sales by southern mills declined 5.87 percent to 651,089 tonnes, reflecting weaker local demand in the southern region.
Notably, there were no exports from North-based mills in January. All export shipments originated from the South, where volumes climbed 79.41 percent to 937,097 tonnes, compared with 522,336 tonnes in the same month last year.
The January performance continues the positive momentum seen in the current fiscal year. During the first seven months of FY2026 (July–January), total cement dispatches reached 30.583 million tonnes, up 10.58 percent from 27.656 million tonnes in the same period last year.
Domestic dispatches during this period increased 12.36 percent to 25.015 million tonnes, compared with 22.264 million tonnes, indicating a gradual recovery in local consumption. Export dispatches edged up 3.26 percent to 5.568 million tonnes from 5.392 million tonnes a year earlier.
North-based mills remained dominant in the domestic market, dispatching 20.895 million tonnes, up 13.67 percent, though their exports fell 23.13 percent to 808,506 tonnes from 1.052 million tonnes last year. Overall, dispatches from the North still rose 11.68 percent to 21.704 million tonnes.
South-based mills posted steadier growth, with domestic dispatches increasing 6.12 percent to 4.12 million tonnes and exports rising 9.66 percent to 4.759 million tonnes. As a result, total dispatches from the South climbed 7.99 percent to 8.879 million tonnes during the period.
