Sailing through high seas
Pakistan’s cement producers are sailing through high tides as domestic demand succumbs to macroeconomic pressures, manufacturing costs rise and utilisation levels look set to weaken with the addition of new capacities. Exports are providing a much-needed cushion, as is the shift towards reducing costs and improving operational efficiencies. By Syeda Humaira Akhtar, BMA Capital Management Ltd, Pakistan.
Against a backdrop of lower domestic demand and higher production costs, Pakistan producers such as
DG Khan Cement have smartly shifted their focus towards enhancing operational efficiencies
FY19 proved to be crucial for Pakistan as the newly-elected government took charge in August 2018. With a new face at the helm, the incoming government has had to stomach emergent weakening macroeconomic conditions where delays in the implementation of key stabilisation measures have led to a slowdown in economic activity.
