Pakistan Cement Exports Fall for the Fourth Straight Month. Pakistan cement industry showed mixed performance in December 2025, as cement exports declined for the fourth month in a row, while domestic sales continued to grow. The latest figures released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) highlight a clear gap between local demand and export performance.
Cement Despatches Show Modest Overall Growth
Total cement despatches in December 2025 reached 4.347 million tons, showing a 1.47% increase compared to 4.284 million tons in December 2024. This slight growth was mainly driven by stronger domestic consumption rather than exports.
Domestic Cement Sales Rise Strongly
Local cement despatches performed well during the month. The industry sold 3.725 million tons in domestic markets, up from 3.5 million tons in December last year. This reflects a 6.42% year-on-year increase, indicating stable local demand despite broader economic pressures.
Cement Exports Continue to Decline
In contrast, cement exports fell sharply by 20.66% in December 2025. Export volumes dropped from 783,550 tons in December 2024 to 621,685 tons this year. This decline marks the fourth consecutive monthly fall in cement exports, raising concerns for manufacturers relying on overseas markets.
Performance of North-Based Cement Mills
Overall Despatches
North-based cement mills despatched 3.153 million tons in December 2025, posting a 5.56% increase compared to 2.987 million tons in the same month last year.
Domestic Sales
Domestic despatches from the north rose sharply to 3.153 million tons, showing a 9.75% increase from 2.873 million tons in December 2024.
Exports
Notably, north-based mills recorded zero exports during December 2025, highlighting the continued weakness in external demand.
Performance of South-Based Cement Mills
Overall Despatches
South-based mills despatched 1.19 million tons of cement in December 2025, which was 7.94% lower than 1.29 million tons despatched in December 2024.
Domestic Sales
Local sales from southern mills stood at 572,263 tons, down 8.81% from 627,519 tons last year.
Exports
Exports from the south declined by 7.14%, falling to 621,685 tons from 669,461 tons in December 2024.
Cement Industry Performance in First Half of FY2025-26
Total Despatches
During the first six months of the current fiscal year, total cement despatches reached 25.783 million tons, showing a 9.67% increase compared to 23.510 million tons in the same period last year.
Domestic Despatches
Domestic sales rose strongly to 21.152 million tons, up 13.11% from 18.7 million tons, reflecting sustained local construction activity.
Export Despatches
Exports, however, declined by 3.73%, falling to 4.631 million tons from 4.81 million tons in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
Regional Breakdown: July to December 2025
North-Based Mills
- Domestic despatches: 17.915 million tons (up 14.67%)
- Exports: 808,506 tons (down 18.53%)
- Total despatches: 18.723 million tons, a 12.68% increase year-on-year
South-Based Mills
- Domestic despatches: 3.237 million tons (up 5.22%)
- Exports: 3.822 million tons, almost unchanged from last year
- Total despatches: 7.059 million tons, up 2.39%
Conclusion
Pakistan’s cement sector continues to benefit from strong domestic demand, but cement exports remain under pressure, marking the fourth consecutive monthly decline. While overall despatches and local sales show healthy growth, the persistent fall in exports highlights the need for improved regional trade conditions and cost competitiveness. Going forward, balancing domestic strength with export recovery will be critical for sustainable growth in Pakistan’s cement industry.
