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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Pakistan ranked 5th in cement exports, surpasses Germany: Daily Times

By Moonis Ahmed

KARACHI: Pakistan has been ranked 5th in the world’s cement exports after a jump of 47 percent in exports during last fiscal year, the Global Cement Report shows.

According to the report, China ranks first with 26 million tonnes in exports, while Japan grabbed the second position by exporting 12 million tonnes. The third largest cement exporter in world is Thailand with around 12 million tonnes, followed by Turkey with 10.6 million tonnes.

Pakistan has left Germany behind by exporting 11 million tonnes of cement during last fiscal year. Germany now stands at 6th position with 9 million tonnes exports.

Irfan Amanullah, Chief Financial Officer of Attock Cement Limited, while talking to Daily Times said that Pakistan secured this position because of high demand and by capturing new markets.

He said that Pakistan could achieve the mark of 13 to 14 million tonnes exports by the end of the fiscal year if the government provides better infrastructure facilities.

He was of the view that the demand had remained firm during the year that helped to reach this mark in exports. “The new markets explored by the exporters include some of African countries, Qatar and Iraq,” he said.

For more on this article, please click on the following link: Pakistan ranked 5th in cement exports, surpasses Germany: Daily Times