Pakistan’s cement industry reported a significant increase in dispatches for January, reaching 3.894 million tons, a 14.08% increase from the same month last year, according to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).

Local dispatches in January climbed to 3.313 million tons, up 11.64% from January 2024’s 2.967 million tons.

Export dispatches surged by 30.25%, rising from 446,595 tons in January 2024 to 581,691 tons in January this year.

However, the overall dispatches for the first seven months of the current fiscal year showed a slight decrease of 1.71%, totaling 26.827 million tons compared to 27.295 million tons during the same period last fiscal year.

Domestic dispatches fell by 7.59% to 21.435 million tons from 23.196 million tons, while export volumes increased by 31.54% to 5.392 million tons from 4.099 million tons.

A spokesman for APCMA highlighted ongoing concerns regarding the duties and tax structure on cement, which he described as a major bottleneck for domestic demand.

“Cement being an essential commodity and not a luxury item, the government should rationalize its tax structure, as the lower cost to end consumer will boost construction activities and employment in the sector,” he said.