Displaying items by tag: data

Pakistan: Recent tax increases on cement have been blamed for a significant decline in demand, with cement despatches falling by 25% in August 2024 compared to August 2023. According to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), total cement dispatches during August 2024 were 3.37Mt, down by 34% year-on-year from 4.53Mt.

For the first two months of the 2024 financial year, total cement despatches were 6.38Mt, a decline of 18% year-on-year from 7.76Mt in 2023. In August 2024, domestic dispatches decreased by 21% year-on-year to 5.21Mt, and exports dropped slightly by 2% to 1.16Mt.

A spokesperson for the APCMA said "In the current budget, excise duty on cement doubled, alongside significant increases in federal and provincial taxes," adding that no other industry has been taxed as heavily. "The government must reassess its taxation policies to support the struggling construction sector, which is critical for employment and economic stability."

Türkiye: Türkiye’s global cement exports declined by 9% to US$2.1bn during the first half of 2024, according to a statement from the Ministry of Trade. In June 2024, exports dropped by 18% to US$336.5m. However, Türkiye's cement exports to Azerbaijan remained steady at US$24.8m during the first half of 2024. In June 2024, exports to Azerbaijan rose by 16.5% year-on-year to US$3.5m. Since the first half of 2023, Türkiye exported cement products valued at US$4.3bn.

Iran: Head of the Iran Cement Association Hamid Farmani reported a 10% decline in Iran's cement production to 76Mt in the year ending 19 March 2024, reports The Tehran Times. Association member Ali-Akbar Alvandian also noted that cement exports fell to 10.5Mt during the period of 21 March 2023 - 21 December 2023, from 13Mt in the previous corresponding period. Annual production is calculated at 90Mt, 60Mt of which is used domestically. 13 white cement projects in the country are currently semi-finished, and if completed will lead to a capacity increase of 8.8Mt/yr.

Farmani said “We predict that in the coming years, the per capita consumption of cement in Iran will approach advanced and developing countries, and the consumption will increase from about 800kg per person to 2000kg per person.”

Pakistan: The cement industry reported a decline in overall despatches from 3.23Mt in July 2023 to 3.01Mt in July 2024, marking a 7% year-on-year fall. Domestic despatches decreased by 11%, while exports rose by 22%, according to The News International.  

A spokesperson for the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association said "Higher taxes and increased input costs are affecting the country's cement sector. This is the 11th straight month during which domestic despatches are showing a declining trend due to sluggish economic activity in the country. The cement industry urges the government to review its taxation policies to reduce the burden of heavy taxes on this important sector of the economy."

Türkiye: Türkiye exported cement products worth US$40.5m to Georgia from January to June 2024, marking an increase of 14% year-on-year. The Turkish Ministry of Trade reported that in June 2024, cement exports to Georgia totalled US$7.9m, up by 16% from June 2023. However, June 2024 saw Türkiye's global cement exports decline by 18% compared to June 2023, to US$336.5m.

Vietnam: Vietnam produced 104.1Mt of cement in the first seven months of 2024, marking a 1% increase year-on-year, as reported by the General Statistics Office (GSO). In July 2024, the country's cement output is estimated at 15.2Mt, a rise of 7% compared to July 2023.

Spain: Cement consumption in Andalucía decreased by 7% in the first half of 2024 to 1.54Mt. In June 2024, consumption dropped 7.6% to 271,415t. This decline extends to exports of clinker and cement, which fell by 24% to 247,805t, as reported by the Andalusian Cement Manufacturers’ Association (AFCA).

Carmen Díaz, president of AFCA, said "The first half figures are negative due to a slowdown in planned infrastructure execution. Considering the daily consumption in June, having two fewer business days this year than in 2023, the monthly figure would be positive, indicating potential recovery in the construction sector in the second half of 2024."

Catalonia: Cement consumption in Catalonia decreased by 3% year-on-year to 1.1Mt in the first half of 2024. Cement production rose by 0.2% year-on-year to 3.21Mt. However, cement and clinker exports dropped by 25% to 1.5Mt.

The president of Ciment Català, Salvador Fernández Capo, said "The continued infrastructure deficit is hindering Catalonia's economic growth, affecting the well-being and quality of life of its citizens and diminishing the competitiveness of the country's economy.”

Nepal: Exports of cement and clinker reached US$48bn in the 2024 financial year, tripling the figure from 2023, according to the Department of Customs. Exports of cement were US$23.5m, while clinker exports stood at US$22.5m.

This follows the government’s introduction of an 8% cash incentive for mine-based product exports and the identification of cement as a potential export item in the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2023. Policy changes, including tariff waivers on significant electricity usage by manufacturers, also contributed to this growth.

Uzbekistan: Cement manufacturers in Uzbekistan produced 6.2Mt of cement from January to May 2024, reflecting 35% growth year-on-year, according to data from the local Statistics Agency. In May 2024, production was at 1.7Mt.