Pakistani cement manufacturers have said that in order to meet massive demand for cement in the country due to various government-run and upcoming China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, the industry has gone in for expansion in its capacity from 44 million tonnes (MT) to 60 MT within two to three years. In this scenario, they are lobbying against cement imports.
India has an import tariff of 19 per cent, these manufacturers have argued, which makes it difficult for them to compete with other exporting countries which have lesser input cost.
"The factors contributing to decline in exports include increase in fuel prices and other input costs, and the most damaging were the barriers erected by the countries they export to, such as anti-dumping duty imposed by South Africa to protect its local industry," industry stakeholders said.
In the first eight months of this fiscal, Pakistan dispatched 26.339 MT of cement, showing an overall growth of 6.36 per cent over the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
During this period, domestic consumption increased by 9.12 per cent, but exports declined by 8.54 per cent.
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