pakistan 
ISLAMABAD: The cement sector has recorded the highest-ever sales growth of 44.39% in the month of March this year.
This is said to be due to a significant increase in construction activities resulting in a surge in domestic consumption and a spike in exports.
As per the data released, on Friday, by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), cement sales were recorded at the level of 5.37 million tons in March 2021. In the same month (March) last year, the level was 3.72 million tons.
Of the total, local cement consumption stood at 4.56 million tons in March 2021. This signifies a healthy growth of 41.96% when compared to 3.21 million tons in March 2020.
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Exports surged 59.8%, going up from 507,480 tons recorded in March 2020 to 810,962 tons in March this year.
Last month, mills in the northern part of the country brought in 3.8 million tons of cement to the domestic market that shows an increase of 38.52% against 2.75 million tons in March 2020.
Cement mills in the southern region sold a whopping 753,704 tons to the domestic market. This is 62.28% more than sales of 464,440 tons back in March 2020.
Similarly, data shows that exports from southern mills spiked 32.42% to 530,632 tons in March 2021 which were 400,721 tons in the month of March of last year.
During the under review nine-month period of this fiscal year, mills in the north sold 30.6 million tons to the domestic market. This is 17.75% more than 26 million tons in the same time period of last year. Exports from northern mills came slightly down by 0.22% to 1.911 million tons while Southern mills sold 5.55 million tons in the current fiscal year, which is 21.36% higher than the corresponding period of the previous financial year.
