Pakistan’s cement exports fell 2.6 per cent during the first quarter (July-September) of FY27, as lower shipments and weaker export prices weighed on the sector’s performance. 

According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data, cement exports stood at 2.462Mt during Q1 FY27, compared with 2.528Mt in the same period last year. Export earnings declined 3.9 per cent to PKR26.92bn (US$97.3m) from PKR28.02bn a year earlier. In dollar terms, receipts fell 2.1 per cent to US$96.89m from US$99.01m during the corresponding period of FY26.

Industry experts also blamed the halt in cement exports to Afghanistan since last year on tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

Despite the quarterly decline, September exports improved. Cement exports rose 9.7 per cent year-on-year to 732,132t from 667,432t in September 2025. Export proceeds increased 7 per cent to PKR7.92bn, while dollar earnings climbed 8.7 per cent to $28.55m from $26.27m.

On a month-on-month basis, however, September shipments fell 1.6 per cent to 744,014t from 744,014t in August, while export earnings declined 5.4 per cent in rupee terms and 5.2  per cent in dollar terms.

Advertisement

The latest figures indicate that although cement exports gained momentum in September, the sector remained below last year’s levels during the first quarter of FY27 due to softer international prices and challenging market conditions.

Historically, Pakistan has exported cement and clinker to countries including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Brazil, the USA, and various regions in Africa.

by Abdul R Siddiqi, Pakistan