Karachi: Cement dispatches in March 2026 saw a modest year-on-year increase of 1%, reaching 3.75 million tons, largely due to a 6.6% rise in exports while local dispatches remained unchanged. On a month-on-month basis, domestic volumes decreased by 10.7%, attributed to fewer working days resulting from Ramadan, Eid holidays, and adverse weather conditions.

According to JS Global, despite the challenges faced in March, the nine-month fiscal year 2026 (9MFY26) local dispatch growth remains strong at 10.6% year-on-year, with exports increasing by 6.3% even after a five-month closure of the Afghan border. This growth was mainly propelled by a 13.5% rise in exports from the South region.

The future outlook for local dispatches is uncertain, with potential demand pressures from rising consumer price index (CPI), possible interest rate hikes, and recent increases in cement prices up to Rs 75 per bag in the North and Rs 50 per bag in the South. These price hikes are attributed to manufacturers passing on increased costs resulting from the ongoing Middle East conflict.