Pakistan's cement exports posted double-digit growth during the first ten months of fiscal year 2025-26, but a steep decline in April shipments highlighted emerging volatility in overseas demand for one of the country's key export commodities.

According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), cement exports rose by 14.74 percent during July-April FY2025-26, reaching $291.104 million compared with $253.710 million during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

The increase in export earnings was accompanied by a rise in shipment volumes. In quantity terms, overseas dispatches climbed by 4.74 percent to 7.47 million metric tonnes, up from 7.13 million metric tonnes recorded during the same period a year earlier. The figures indicate that the sector maintained overall growth momentum through much of the fiscal year, contributing higher export receipts despite a more modest increase in physical volumes.

However, the latest monthly data revealed a notable reversal in performance. Cement exports in April 2026 fell to $20.250 million, compared with $23.644 million in April 2025, representing a year-on-year decline of 14.36 percent.

The slowdown was even more pronounced on a month-to-month basis. Export earnings dropped by 51.69 percent from $41.919 million recorded in March 2026, underscoring a sharp contraction in overseas sales during April.

The contrasting trends point to a fiscal year marked by strong cumulative growth but weaker recent performance. While export revenues and shipment volumes remained higher overall during the first ten months of FY2025-26, the April figures suggest that momentum eased significantly toward the end of the period. PBS data showed that despite the monthly setback, the cement industry remained ahead of last year's export performance in both value and quantity terms over the broader July-April period.

The sector's ability to sustain growth in the remaining months of the fiscal year will likely determine whether the strong gains recorded during the first ten months can offset the weakness observed in April and maintain the industry's contribution to Pakistan's export earnings.