Karachi: Pakistan's local cement dispatches are projected to experience a year-on-year decline of 17% in May 2026, equating to approximately 3.20 million tons. This anticipated decrease is attributed primarily to a reduced number of working days resulting from the Eid holidays.

According to JS Global, the analysis is based on data collected over 24 days from the start of May, during which local sales totaled 2.83 million tons. The northern region witnessed average daily domestic sales of around 100,000 tons during the initial week of May, which softened to between 95,000 and 98,000 tons per day in the second week. Sales recovered to 102,000 tons per day in the third week but are expected to drop significantly in the fourth week to approximately 55,000 tons per day due to the Eid holidays. Meanwhile, the southern region maintained an average of 20,000 tons per day over the same period.

On a month-on-month basis, local cement dispatches are expected to remain largely unchanged, while export dispatches are anticipated to decrease by 9%. Exports by sea from southern manufacturers are projected to fall by 38% year-on-year for May 2026.

Total cement sales in Pakistan for May 2026 are estimated to reach around 3.81 million tons, marking a 22% year-on-year decline and a 2% decrease on a month-on-month basis. Nonetheless, for the eleven-month period of the fiscal year 2026, total cement sales are expected to reach 46.21 million tons, a 7% increase year-on-year, driven by a 9% rise in local sales, while exports are predicted to decline by 1%.

Cement capacity utilization in May 2026 is estimated at 54%, compared to 55% in April 2026 and 69% in May 2025. Average retail cement prices in the northern region remained stable at Rs1,523 per bag in May 2026, slightly down from an average of Rs1,530 per bag in April 2026, according to weekly data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.