Pakistan cement sales decline of 21% in May 2026 drags both domestic and export dispatches lower as the industry awaits budget support
Pakistan’s cement industry hit a rough patch in May. Total dispatches fell 21.02 percent year-on-year to 3.84 million tons, according to data from the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association. The Pakistan cement sales decline hit both domestic and export markets simultaneously. Moreover, the drop marks the sharpest monthly contraction the industry has recorded this fiscal year.
Local cement dispatches fell 17.17 percent to 3.21 million tons compared to 3.87 million tons a year earlier. Exports suffered even more. They dropped 36.06 percent to 632,648 tons from 989,434 tons in May 2025. Furthermore, North-based manufacturers saw total dispatches fall 22 percent while South-based mills recorded an 18.7 percent decline. Therefore, the weakness was broad-based across both regions and both sales channels.
Export activity remained entirely concentrated in the southern region. North-based mills reported zero export dispatches during May. Southern exports also fell, dropping 15.41 percent year-on-year. Therefore, the export picture is deteriorating on both ends — lower volumes from the South and a complete absence of shipments from the North.
Despite the monthly setback, the full fiscal year picture remains positive. Total dispatches during the first eleven months of FY2025-26 rose 6.44 percent to 46.26 million tons. Furthermore, domestic demand drove that growth, with local dispatches climbing 8.26 percent to 38.01 million tons between July 2025 and May 2026. Export volumes, however, edged down 1.21 percent over the same period.
APCMA expressed optimism about the upcoming federal budget. The association expects supportive policy measures to address operational bottlenecks and strengthen local manufacturing. Furthermore, it welcomed Pakistan’s broader efforts to reduce geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Finally, the industry is banking on budget day to deliver the policy support that May’s weak numbers suggest it badly needs.
