Saturday, February 02, 2008



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Cement exports all-time high in Jan

KARACHI: The cement exports posted a record high level to reach at 618,000 tonnes in January this year.

According to the report released by JS Research Capital, exports have increased by a massive 152 percent on year-on-year basis and by 60 percent when compared to December 2007.

Previous record high was made in August 2007 when the exports stood at 575,000 tonnes. On the other hand, local dispatches stood at 1.6 million tonnes in January 2008 down by 13 percent compared to Jan 2007.

Analyst of JS Research Capital Bilal Hameed told Daily Times that the passive transport movement in the country in wake of post Benazir’s assassination political turmoil and severe cold weather in the North affected considerably reduced working hours thus negatively affecting local sales.

This decline in local sales was offset by the higher exports during the month resulting in total dispatches of 2.2 million tonnes in Jan 2008, an increase of 6 percent on year-o-year basis. Nevertheless, both local and export sales grew by 13 percent and 60 percent respectively when compared to Dec 2007.

Cumulatively, cement sales during first 7 months of FY08 depicted an increase of 21 percent to stand at 16 million tonnes, owing to the expanding local demand and growing cement shortage in the region leading to higher exports. Export sales thus have shown a commendable increase of 148 percent while local dispatches saw a rise of 6 percent during the first 7 months of FY08.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p..._2-2-2008_pg5_8

Which countries import most of this cement?

Gulf countries? China?

I am assuming china ... given their three georges damns ... or whatever they are called

mideast uses the "Most cranes" in teh world

Isn't cement pretty pricy locally? I can understand the need to meet demands of external customers in order to be taken seriously in the business world, but at the same time to support our economy and help control inflation we should keep supply at home plentiful and cheap.

Local sales still grew by 13% which is a decent amount. The reason sales aren't growing (locally) as much as they were a few years back is because the housing market has slowed down (its still pretty high up and profitable, just not like what it was a couple years back). [We have a capability to make a lot more cement, and if prices start to rise I'm sure businesses will be smart enough to take the opportunity to produce more.]