Pakistan cement exports growing despite global recession: Steel Guru

Daily Times reported that despite global economic slow down around the world the local cement exports continued to exhibit growing trend, as the cement exports to Afghanistan jumped to 23% MoM in June 2009 as compared with April.

According to the latest cement exports break down released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association for the month of June 2009, exports to Afghanistan were up by 23% MoM and 54% YoY which can be put down to improving law and order situation in Afghanistan’s border adjoining areas of NWFP region.

However, the exports to India dropped 14% MoM and 28% YoY to the Middle East and African region remained flat on a MoM basis though were still up 34% YoY as planned capacities are yet to come online in the Middle East.

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Pakistan cement exports rise to USD 750 million: Steel Guru

The News reported that Pakistan cement industry, despite being affected by the global economic crisis has managed to boost exports to USD 750 million in fiscal year 2008-09.

A senior official at the Ministry of Industries said that “Being an irregular sector if compared with textile, the cement industry increased exports to USD 750 million. Though the industry has been given relief of PKR 200 per ton in central excise duty, it is to be fully passed on to end-consumers. This means the price of a cement bag will fall by PKR 10 from July 1.”

Before the budget relief, the cement industry was paying PKR 900 as central excise duty which has been reduced to PKR 700 per tones. Despite a cut in the Public Sector Development Program to just PKR 219 billion owing to which domestic cement consumption has dropped sharply, the industry has performed well in foreign markets in these times of worldwide recession.

Mr Rehmat general chairman of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association said that land transportation cost and port handling charges stand at USD 25 per tonnes and if the duty drawback facility is enhanced to PKR 120 per tonnes exports will easily increase to USD 1.5 billion.

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Economic slowdown hurts cement exports: Daily Times

By Moonis Ahmed

KARACHI: The economic slowdown around the world has begun to hit Pakistan’s cement industry, as its exports in April were lower by 12 percent than that recorded in March.

Exports dropped to one million tonnes from 1.1 million tonnes in March 2009.

According to the latest numbers released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), exports were up 51 percent year-on-year in first ten months of the current fiscal year.

Nevertheless, the number of 975,000 tonnes witnessed last month was still encouraging when compared with the monthly average of 880,000 tons recorded during the first nine months. Exports now constitute 36 percent of total dispatches (year-on-year).

Country’s cement exports had witnessed a healthy growth of 140 percent to all-time high level of 4.2611 million tonnes in the first eight months of last fiscal year. But the industry is now witnessing downward trend as the global economic slowdown has begun to impact it.

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Gwadar to handle cement exports in future: The News

Wednesday, December 03, 2008
By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to manage all cement export activities from Gawadar Port in future while some part of import of wheat and fertilizer would also be shifted on this port to enhance business activities in Balochistan besides creating job opportunities. Federal Minister for Industries and Production Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo said this in a meeting with the Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Mohammad Aslam Khan Raeesani here on Tuesday.

They also discussed matters on various development plans initiated by Federal government especially Ministry of Industries and production in the province, says a news statement issued here. During the meeting, Industrial Minister said that Federal Government has prepared various development plans for the development of this province including supply of clean drinking water, development of precious stone industry, establishing of Export Processing Zone, facility of Utility stores and scheme of tax holidays for Gawadar Port.

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Pakistan cement export in July to October up by 73%: Steel Guru

November 16, 2008
YoY

Daily times reported that cement export witnessed a growth of 73% in four months of 2008 to reach 3.5 million tonnes as total dispatches register an increase of 4% YoY with total sales amounting to 9.8 million tonnes.On the exports front, depreciation of rupee has rendered Pakistani cement as a highly attractive option. The north has primarily contributed to the impressive increase in exports, where exports have taken a leap of a commendable 80% YoY. This is primarily due to the higher demand pouring in from India, which now constitutes 6.5% of exports FY-09. Afghanistan accounts for 28% of the exports.

This is because the incremental exports have primarily been directed towards the cement thirsty UAE, the elaborate construction projects of which have yet to take a hit from the looming economic slowdown.Though sales have increased, capacity utilization has taken a hit by falling to 76.4% which is down by 21% points.

This is primarily because of the expansion ensuing an increase of 1.5 million tonnes YoY in rated capacity, which was unmatched by a 0.35 million tonnes YoY increase in demand. Lucky cement has also made its mark in terms of capacity utilization as its plant in south zone boasts of a level of 117%.

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Cement export exceeds three million tons: Brecorder

RIZWAN BHATTI
KARACHI (November 04 2008): Cement exports exceeded 3 million tons as 3.497 million tons cement was exported in July-October of the current fiscal year depicting 73 percent growth as compared to 2.025 million tons during the same period of last fiscal year. This was due to huge export orders from Middle East, industry sources said.They said that surged in cement export was due to high demand and its shortage in the region, especially in Dubai, Afghanistan and India, where construction activities are at peak. Following the rising demand for cement on international front, the industry is also rapidly growing and its production capacity has increased by about 50 percent to 37 million tons from 21 million tons.Cement exports in October 2008 also broke all previous records, as over one million tons cement was exported in a single month. However, due to poor economic situation in the country, local dispatches declined by 14 percent during the period under review. Local cement dispatches declined to 6.337 million tons during this period as compared to 7.456 million tons of last fiscal year. But overall cement dispatches increased by 3.71 percent to 9.834 million tons as compared to 9.482 million tons of last fiscal year.

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