Cement demand tumbles on high prices, construction slowdown

Due to tax-driven price increases and a construction slowdown during the monsoon season, local cement sales plunged by 27.54 per cent year-on-year to 2.752 million tonnes in August. Cement exports also fell 16pc to Rs613,857 tonnes compared to 730,755 tonnes in August 2023. As a result, overall cement despatches (local sales and exports) tumbled by 26pc to 3.366m tonnes from 4.528m tonnes in August 2023. According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufac­turers Association (APCMA), total cement despatches during 2MFY25 were 6.375m tonnes, down 18pc from 7.758m tonnes in the corresponding period last fiscal year.