Pakistan’s domestic cement dispatches rose 7.35% year-on-year in September 2026 as local demand improved, while exports were almost unchanged from a year earlier.
Domestic dispatches reached 3.788 million tonnes during the month, compared with 3.529 million tonnes in September 2025, according to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association.
Total cement dispatches, including local sales and exports, increased 5.95% to 4.621 million tonnes from 4.361 million tonnes a year earlier.
Export dispatches were broadly flat at 832,173 tonnes, compared with 831,966 tonnes in September last year.
The figures show that the increase in overall September volumes was driven primarily by stronger domestic demand rather than export growth.
The regional data was mixed. North-based mills recorded total dispatches of 3.164 million tonnes, down 2.43% from 3.242 million tonnes a year earlier. South-based mills dispatched about 1.46 million tonnes, an increase of 30.23% from approximately 1.12 million tonnes in September 2025.
For the first quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, domestic cement dispatches rose to 10.845 million tonnes from 10.062 million tonnes in the same period last year, an increase of roughly 8%.
Exports moved in the opposite direction over the quarter, falling 11.31% to 2.296 million tonnes from 2.589 million tonnes.
Total cement dispatches for July through September increased about 4% to 13.141 million tonnes.
Cement volumes are closely watched because local dispatches can provide an indication of activity in construction and infrastructure, although they do not by themselves measure the overall health of the construction sector.
The September increase suggests stronger domestic absorption compared with the same month last year. At the same time, the quarterly fall in exports shows that overseas demand remained a weaker part of the industry’s performance.
The industry continues to face pressure from energy and transportation costs, which can affect both production expenses and retail cement prices. The latest data nevertheless shows domestic sales providing the main support to cement dispatches at the end of the first quarter.