September 06, 2008

Pakistan’s cement exports and local demand expected to surge

It is reported that Pakistan’s cement exports and domestic demand would continue to surge in the next quarter of the current fiscal year. Last year, cement exports recorded an increase of 112% YoY and domestic demand rose by 24% YoY.

Mr Badruddin Fakhri MD of Galadari Cement said that “Cement exports this year will surge more than 2 fold compared to last year.”

Mr Babar Bashir Nawaz CEO of Attock Cement said that “The future of the cement industry is bright. Cement exports to Afghanistan may remain the same as last year at around 1.7 million tonnes however, exports to the Middle East and India will increase to a large extent. We have reduced the prices of our products to cut short the difference between prices in North and South.” He added that cement exports would demonstrate the same increase in the next quarter.”

Mr Wali Bhai Patel president of Karachi Cement Dealers Action Committee said that “Cement dealers have been earning more in supplying Punjab’s cement as manufacturer in the north offer incentives to the dealers in Sindh and keep their prices low as compare to the prices in Sindh.” He added that cement produced in Sindh is being sold for PKR 215 to PKR 220 while the cement produced in Punjab is available at PKR 245 to PKR 250 and this price difference must be curtailed.