LAHORE: Cement dispatches declined marginally by 0.7 per cent in August 2026, as a sharp fall in dispatches from northern-based mills outweighed strong growth in the southern region, according to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).
Total cement dispatches stood at 4.039 million tonnes in August, compared with 4.068 million tonnes in the same month of the previous fiscal year. Domestic cement dispatches declined 1.07 per cent to 3.283 million tonnes in August 2026, compared with 3.318 million tonnes in August 2025. Export dispatches, however, increased marginally by 0.92 per cent to 756,553 tonnes from 749,683 tonnes in the corresponding month last year.
Northern-based cement mills recorded a significant decline in overall dispatches, which fell 9.43 per cent to 2.691 million tonnes in August, compared with 2.972 million tonnes in the same month last year. In contrast, southern-based mills dispatched 1.35 million tonnes, up 22.97 per cent from 1.096 million tonnes in August 2025.
In the domestic market, northern mills dispatched 2.691 million tonnes of cement, down 2.59 per cent from 2.763 million tonnes a year earlier. Southern mills, meanwhile, increased domestic dispatches by 6.53 per cent to 591,164 tonnes from 554,947 tonnes in August 2025.
No cement exports were recorded by northern-based mills in August 2026. Exports from southern-based mills, however, increased 39.83 per cent to 756,553 tonnes from 541,054 tonnes in the same month last year.
During the first two months of the current fiscal year, total cement dispatches, including domestic sales and exports, rose 2.80 per cent to 8.521 million tonnes, compared with 8.289 million tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
Domestic dispatches during July-August 2026 increased 8.04 per cent to 7.058 million tonnes from 6.533 million tonnes during the same period last year. Export dispatches, however, declined 16.69 per cent to 1.464 million tonnes from 1.757 million tonnes during the first two months of the previous fiscal year.
Northern-based mills recorded domestic dispatches of 5.784 million tonnes during the first two months of the current fiscal year, up 7.98 per cent from 5.356 million tonnes during July-August 2025. However, unlike the previous year, when northern mills exported 440,614 tonnes during the same period, no exports were recorded from the region during July-August 2026.
As a result, total dispatches by northern-based mills declined marginally by 0.22 per cent to 5.784 million tonnes during the first two months of the current fiscal year, compared with 5.797 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year.
Southern-based mills performed better during the period. Domestic dispatches rose 8.28 per cent to 1.274 million tonnes during July-August 2026, compared with 1.177 million tonnes during the same period of the previous fiscal year.
Exports from southern-based mills increased 11.21 per cent to 1.463 million tonnes from 1.316 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year. Consequently, total dispatches by southern mills increased 9.83 per cent to 2.738 million tonnes during the first two months of the current fiscal year, compared with 2.493 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year.
An APCMA spokesperson expressed concern over the situation in the northern areas of the country following heavy rains and flooding, saying agriculture and housing have been badly affected.He said the affected population requires government assistance to cope with the losses and challenges caused by the floods.
