According to Topline Securities, cement dispatches were up 3 per cent in December 2010 to around 2.49 mt, compared with sales in November 2010. The report also indicates that reconstruction activities were gradually gaining pace in flood-affected areas, local dispatches improved by 3 per cent month-on-month to 1.79 mt. Meanwhile, exports were also up 3 per cent to 0.7 mt. Thus, cement dispatches during the period July-December 2010 fell by more than 9 per cent to 15 mt, compared with 16.6 mt in the same period last year. Exports too eroded by over 17 per cent to 4.6 mt, while local dispatches fell to 10.4 mt from 11 mt in the same period last fiscal year. The drop in exports came on the back of declining sales to the Middle East and a complete halt in dispatches to India after the expiry of a quality assurance certificate from the Indian authorities. Top securities also believe that cement dispatches will improve marginally once reconstruction activities begin in flood-affected areas.