KARACHI: Domestic cement sales rose 4.36 per cent year-on-year to 3.601 million tonnes in January, while exports surged 79.4pc to 937,097 tonnes, despite zero shipments from north-based manufacturers.
Overall cement despatches, including local sales and exports, increased 12.54pc year-on-year to 4.538m tonnes during the month.
According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), total cement despatches during the first seven months of FY26 climbed 10.58pc year-on-year to 30.583m tonnes. Domestic sales grew 12.36pc to 25.015m tonnes, while exports edged up 3.26pc to 5.568m tonnes over the period.
Rabia Yousuf of Topline Securities said the sharp rise in January exports was driven primarily by sea-borne shipments from manufacturers in the southern region. She added that ongoing border disruptions and political instability along the Afghan frontier continued to halt exports from north-based companies.
Oil sales
Meanwhile, oil marketing companies (OMCs) recorded sales of 1.52m tonnes in January, reflecting a 10pc year-on-year increase and a 12pc rise compared to December.
The annual growth was attributed to signs of economic recovery, easing inflation and improved enforcement against fuel smuggling. Month-on-month growth, analysts said, was supported by lower petrol and diesel prices in January, as well as a low base effect following a nationwide strike in December 2025 that disrupted sales for around 10 days.
Myesha Sohail of Topline Securities said total oil sales during 7MFY26 reached 9.7m tonnes, up 3pc from 9.4m tonnes in the corresponding period last year.
She noted that petrol sales increased 3pc year-on-year and 2pc month-on-month to 641,000 tonnes in January, while high-speed diesel sales rose 11pc YoY and 20pc MoM to 664,000 tonnes. Furnace oil sales jumped 76pc year-on-year to 102,000 tonnes, marking a seven-month high.