Pakistan cement production falls in 7MFY19

The overall output of Pakstan's Large Scale Manufacturing Industries (LSMI) decreased by 2.3 per cent for July 2018-January 2019, compared to July 2017-January 2018, says data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The LSMI output decreased by 4.6 per cent for January 2019 compared to January 2018 and increased by 20.8 per cent, if compared to December 2018.
 
The production in July 2018-January 2019 as compared to July 2017-January 2018 has significantly decreased in food, beverages and tobacco, petcokeoke and petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, non-metallic mineral products, automobiles and iron and steel products, while it has increased in fertilisers and electronics. The cement production also during this period also contracted.
 
As a result, the overall LSMI has shown a decline of 2.3 per cent during July 2018-January 2019 when compared with the same period of last year.
 
Pakistan's cement industry recorded a negative growth of 2.72 per cent during first seven months of FY18-19, between July and January 2019, as production fell from 23.77Mt of cement to 23.12Mt, apparently due to fall in local demand and other factors, reports industry. While, in January 2019 alone, cement production decreased by 9.02 per cent to 3.31Mt from 3.64Mt in January 2018.
 
All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) spokesman attributes the continued decline in cement productio and sales to a reduction in government infrastructure spending.