KARACHI: Manufacturers have been exporting cement at an average price of Rs300 (excluding local taxes and duties) per 50 kg bag since July 2012 while charging local consumers up to Rs540 (including taxes and duties) for the same bag.
Cement exports stood at Rs5,894 per tonne or $58.6 per tonne in the first quarter of the current fiscal year which was Rs5,989 per tonne or $58.2 per tonne in the corresponding period of last fiscal year. Cement exports earned Rs14.362 billion or $143 million (2.436m tonnes) in July-September 2014-15 as compared to Rs15.17bn or $147.5m (2.534m tonnes) in same period last fiscal year.
According to figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the local industry exported cement at Rs5,986 per tonne or $58 per tonne in 2013-14 as compared to Rs6,142 per tonne or $63.5 per tonne in 2012-13. Cement exports fetched Rs52bn or $509m (8.73m tonnes) in 2013-14 as compared to Rs56bn or $577m (9.09m tonnes) in 2012-13.