February 2026 Cement Dispatches Show Double-Digit Growth
Pakistan’s cement sector posted a strong performance in February 2026, with total dispatches rising by 12.53 percent on a year-on-year basis. According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), overall cement dispatches reached 4.199 million tons, compared to 3.732 million tons in February 2025.
Local cement dispatches during the month stood at 3.467 million tons, up 8.35 percent from 3.2 million tons a year earlier. Export dispatches showed even stronger momentum, climbing by 37.72 percent as volumes increased from 531,736 tons in February 2025 to 732,333 tons in February 2026. The numbers highlight improving demand both at home and in key export markets.
North and South Mills: Domestic Demand Strengthens
The regional breakdown of dispatches shows that both North- and South-based mills benefited from stronger domestic demand. North-based cement mills dispatched 2.856 million tons in February 2026, an increase of 7.66 percent compared to 2.653 million tons in the same month last year. South-based mills dispatched 1.34 million tons, marking a much sharper rise of 24.50 percent versus 1.079 million tons in February 2025.
In domestic markets alone, North-based mills dispatched 2.856 million tons, up 9.72 percent from 2.603 million tons a year earlier. South-based mills sold 611,239 tons locally, a modest but positive increase of 2.35 percent compared to 597,177 tons in February 2025. These figures suggest that while the North continues to dominate local volumes, the South is playing an increasingly important role in overall growth.
Exports Driven by South-Based Mills as North Shipments Stall
Export performance in February was heavily skewed toward South-based producers. There were no exports from North-based mills during the month, while exports from the South increased by 51.95 percent. Volumes from the South climbed to 732,333 tons in February 2026 from 481,956 tons in the same month last year.
This divergence underscores the export advantage of South-based plants, which benefit from closer access to ports and lower logistics costs for overseas markets. For investors and sector analysts, the shift also highlights how regional positioning is shaping the competitive landscape within Pakistan’s cement industry.
Eight-Month Trend Confirms Recovery in Cement Demand
Looking at the broader picture, the first eight months of the current fiscal year show a clear recovery in cement demand. Total dispatches, including both domestic sales and exports, reached 34.798 million tons during July 2025 to February 2026. This represents an increase of 10.86 percent compared to 31.388 million tons in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
Domestic dispatches during this eight-month window stood at 28.503 million tons, up 11.93 percent from 25.465 million tons a year earlier. Export dispatches rose by 6.27 percent to 6.295 million tons, compared with 5.924 million tons in the corresponding period last year. The data indicates that both local construction activity and external demand are gradually improving after a challenging period for the sector.
Regional Performance and Industry’s Call for Budget Incentives
North-based mills recorded domestic dispatches of 23.745 million tons during the first eight months of the fiscal year, a growth of 13.15 percent over 20.985 million tons in July 2024 to February 2025. However, exports from the North dropped by 27.07 percent to 803,306 tons, down from 1.101 million tons in the same period a year earlier. Even so, total dispatches by North-based mills rose by 11.15 percent to 24.548 million tons, compared to 22.086 million tons previously.
In contrast, South-based mills posted domestic dispatches of 4.758 million tons between July 2025 and February 2026, up 6.21 percent from 4.480 million tons a year ago. Exports from the South rose by 13.89 percent to 5.491 million tons, compared to 4.822 million tons in the corresponding period last fiscal year. Overall, total dispatches by South-based mills increased by 10.19 percent to 10.250 million tons, versus 9.302 million tons previously.
Commenting on the figures, a spokesperson for APCMA said the upcoming budget should include incentives for the cement industry to boost off-take and make the commodity more affordable for consumers. According to the association, such measures would help the sector utilise idle capacity, improve economies of scale and support broader growth in construction and allied industries.
