Karachi: Cement dispatches saw a marginal increase of 0.4% year-on-year to 4.8 million tons in October 2026, as a rise in local demand compensated for a decrease in exports. According to JS Research, domestic dispatches grew by 1.2%, while exports fell by 3.7%, largely due to a continued halt in North-based exports attributed to the closure of the Afghan border for the twelfth consecutive month.

The data highlights that within the domestic market, the southern region experienced a noteworthy 7.1% increase in dispatches year-on-year, whereas the northern region's dispatches remained unchanged. Month-on-month, total dispatches rose by 4.1%, driven primarily by a 6.7% increase in domestic dispatches. Over the first four months of the fiscal year 2027, total dispatches grew by 2.9% year-on-year to 17.95 million tons, with local dispatches showing a stronger growth of 5.9% year-on-year, reaching 14.89 million tons.

JS Global remains optimistic about the cement sector, noting its potential to handle challenges such as high inflation and increased coal prices, which have risen by 50% in the calendar year 2026 to date. The industry is expected to leverage timely price adjustments and capitalize on strong dispatch growth potential. The sector is currently trading at a favorable forward price-to-earnings ratio of 7.2x for the fiscal year 2027, compared to 8.6x for the fiscal year 2026, as reported by JS Global.