Islamabad: The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has reported a sharp decline in cement dispatches in August 2024, with sales falling by 25.68% year-on-year, attributing the drop to significant tax hikes that have driven up prices and dampened demand.

According to Zameen.Com, total cement dispatches amounted to 3.366 million tons in August 2024, down from 4.528 million tons in the same period last year. Local dispatches saw a decline of 27.54%, reaching 2.752 million tons, while exports also dropped by 16%, with 613,857 tons dispatched compared to 730,755 tons in August 2023. Over the first two months of the fiscal year, total dispatches fell 17.82%, with domestic sales down 20.73% and exports falling 1.65%.

Regionally, North-based mills dispatched 2.530 million tons, a 22.20% decline, while South-based mills saw a steeper drop of 34.54%, dispatching 835,245 tons. The APCMA has called on the government to review its taxation policies to revive the struggling construction sector and mitigate further job losses.