November proved to be the worst month for cement manufacturers this fiscal year as cement dispatches declined by 6.47 per cent as compared to corresponding period of last year. Cement dispatches decline was due to Eid ul Azha and less demand in local as well as export markets. Data released by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association reveals that local cement demand has continuously declined since July 2011 when sales of commodity increased by 16.31 per cent compared to production in July 2010. However, increase in local demand was reduced to 10.61 per cent in August, 8.81 per cent in September, and 5.77 per cent in October over dispatches made in the corresponding periods of these months last year. “November is the first month this fiscal when demand in local market declined by negative 5.12 per cent” said a spokesman of APCMA.
