LAHORE: The cement industry posted a strong start to 2026, with total cement dispatches rising by 12.54 per cent in January, driven largely by a sharp rebound in exports, according to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).
Total cement dispatches during January stood at 4.538 million tonnes, compared with 4.032 million tonnes in the same month last year. While domestic demand showed moderate improvement, it was exports that provided the biggest boost, underscoring the sector’s growing reliance on overseas markets amid uneven local construction activity.
Local cement dispatches increased by 4.36 per cent to 3.601 million tonnes in January 2026, up from 3.45 million tonnes a year earlier. Export volumes, however, surged by 61.1 per cent, rising to 937,097 tonnes from 581,691 tonnes in January 2025.
Region-wise data highlight a mixed picture. North-based cement mills dispatched 2.95 million tonnes during the month, recording a 4.67 per cent increase compared with 2.818 million tonnes last year. South-based mills, meanwhile, saw total dispatches climb sharply by 30.82 per cent to 1.59 million tonnes, largely on the back of higher exports.
In domestic markets, North-based mills posted healthier growth, with local dispatches rising by 6.93 per cent to 2.95 million tonnes. In contrast, domestic sales by South-based mills declined by 5.87 per cent to 651,089 tonnes, reflecting weaker local demand in southern markets.
Notably, there were no exports from North-based mills during January. All export shipments originated from the South, where outbound volumes jumped by 79.41 per cent to 937,097 tonnes, compared with 522,336 tonnes in the same month last year.
The January performance adds to a broader upward trend seen during the current fiscal year. During the first seven months (July to January), total cement dispatches reached 30.583 million tonnes, marking a 10.58 per cent increase from 27.656 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year.
Domestic dispatches during this period rose by 12.36 per cent to 25.015 million tonnes, up from 22.264 million tonnes, indicating a gradual recovery in local consumption. Export dispatches increased marginally by 3.26 per cent to 5.568 million tonnes, compared with 5.392 million tonnes last year.
North-based mills remained the dominant players in domestic markets, dispatching 20.895 million tonnes during the first seven months of the fiscal year, an increase of 13.67 per cent. However, their exports declined sharply by 23.13 per cent to 808,506 tonnes, down from 1.052 million tonnes a year earlier. Overall dispatches by North-based mills still rose by 11.68 per cent to 21.704 million tonnes.
South-based mills posted steadier growth. Domestic dispatches increased by 6.12 per cent to 4.12 million tonnes, while exports rose by 9.66 per cent to 4.759 million tonnes. As a result, total dispatches from the South climbed by 7.99 per cent to 8.879 million tonnes during the period.
