Cement sales fall 19pc in February

KARACHI: The overall cement despatches (domestic and export) declined by 19.22 per cent to 3.259m tonnes in February as against 4.035m tonnes in the same month last year due to few working days and holidays for general elections. According to the data released by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), local cement sales during February were 2.863m tonnes as compared to 3.590m tonnes in February 2023, down by 20.33pc. Export despatches also fell by 11pc to 395,935 tonnes from 444,962 tonnes in February 2023. Fahad Hussain Khan of Topline Securities attributed the drop in local cement sales to fewer working days compared to January followed by a slowdown in construction activities which usually get thin for a few days before and after the general elections.