Cement exports register big increase in July: Dawn

Parvaiz Ishfaq Rana

KARACHI: Cement export made a sudden jump during July, the first month of the current fiscal year (2009-10), to 1.160 million tons from 0.838 million tons recorded during June 2009.

According to exporters, there had been around one million tons of exports for the last two years, but during July, the figure crossed the mark, indicating revival of cement demand in the world market.

However, cement export in June 2009 temporarily declined as India stopped providing rail wagons.

According to an understanding, both the countries were to provide train facility on the basis of inter-change which means one rail would go from Pakistan and the other would come from India to carry cement across Wagah border.

Cement export to India by sea route declined to 5,795 tons, but picked up in July and stood at 21,558 tons.

Similarly, export of cement to India by train during June was 38,560 tons but increased to 49,104 tons in July 2009.

Despite the fact that there was some decline in cement consumption by construction industry in India affected by slow economic activity, the on-going construction of Commonwealth games complex somewhat sustained demand of cement, exporters said.

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