Local cement despatches in the cement industry in Pakistan rose by 1.17 per cent in October 2026, according to data released on Tuesday by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), the industry body that tracks mill shipments. Domestic volumes reached 4.041 million tons, compared with 3.994 million tons in October 2025.
Export despatches slipped 3.67 per cent to 768,754 tons from 798,019 tons a year earlier. Combined domestic and export shipments for the month were 4.810 million tons, against 4.792 million tons in the same month of the previous fiscal year — a rise of 0.37 per cent.
North softens, south gains in October
Regional patterns diverged sharply. North-based mills despatched 3.397 million tons in total in October 2026, down 3.13 per cent from 3.507 million tons in October 2025. South-based mills moved 1.41 million tons, 9.90 per cent more than the 1.29 million tons recorded a year earlier.
On the domestic side alone, north-based mills sent 3.397 million tons into local markets, a modest 0.13 per cent increase from 3.393 million tons. South-based mills’ local sales were 643,816 tons, up 7.05 per cent from 601,401 tons.
Exports tell a clearer split. North-based mills recorded no exports in October 2026, after shipping 114,082 tons in October 2025. South-based exports rose 12.40 per cent to 768,754 tons from 683,937 tons, accounting for all of the month’s overseas despatches.
Four-month picture: stronger home demand, weaker exports
Over the first four months of the current fiscal year (July to October 2026), total cement despatches — domestic plus exports — were 17.953 million tons, 2.93 per cent higher than 17.442 million tons in the same period a year earlier. That backdrop matters for how readers read monthly swings in the cement industry in Pakistan.
Domestic despatches in those four months reached 14.889 million tons, up 5.93 per cent from 14.055 million tons. Export volumes fell 9.51 per cent to 3.064 million tons from 3.387 million tons.
North-based mills’ domestic despatches in July–October 2026 were 12.344 million tons, up 4.87 per cent from 11.770 million tons. They recorded no exports in that span, compared with 775,948 tons a year earlier, and their total despatches fell 1.61 per cent to 12.344 million tons from 12.546 million tons.
South-based mills’ domestic despatches rose 11.36 per cent to 2.545 million tons from 2.285 million tons. Their exports increased 17.38 per cent to 3.064 million tons from 2.611 million tons. Overall south despatches climbed 14.57 per cent to 5.610 million tons from 4.896 million tons.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- October 2025: Domestic despatches were 3.994 million tons; exports were 798,019 tons; total despatches were 4.792 million tons.
- July–October 2025: Total despatches stood at 17.442 million tons, with domestic volumes at 14.055 million tons and exports at 3.387 million tons.
- July–October 2026: Total despatches rose to 17.953 million tons; domestic volumes reached 14.889 million tons; exports fell to 3.064 million tons.
- October 2026: Domestic despatches hit 4.041 million tons (+1.17pc year on year); exports were 768,754 tons (−3.67pc); total despatches were 4.810 million tons (+0.37pc).
- Data release (Tuesday): APCMA published the October 2026 despatch breakdown for north- and south-based mills.
Aasan alfaaz mein
October 2026 mein Pakistan ke andar cement ki bhejani thori barh gayi — 1.17 percent. Bahar bhejne wala cement kam ho gaya. South ke mills ne zyada volume handle kiya, jabke north se exports band rahe. Gharailu construction demand thori behtar dikhti hai, lekin export kamzor hai.
Pakistan cement sales for the month therefore show a mild home-market lift alongside softer overseas volumes, with growth concentrated in the south under the APCMA figures.
