Pakistani cement sales increased 25 per cent in the first 10 months of the 2007/08 fiscal year, driven by growing demand from builders at home and abroad, an industry official said on Monday.
 
Cement sales totalled 24.6Mt, compared with 19.7Mt sold in the same period last year, said Shahzad Ahmed, secretary-general of the private All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association.
 
"Overall there is growth in cement due to rising exports and increased local construction activities," said Bilal Hameed, an analyst at JS Global Capital Ltd.
 
The 2007/08 budget earmarked a record PKR520bn for the public sector, which meant more construction as development spending is channelled into sectors such as health, education and infrastructure.
 
During the July-April period, cement exports from Pakistan jumped 142 per cent to a record 5.95Mt, compared with 2.45Mt shipped a year earlier.
Advertisement