ISLAMABAD, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The sales of cement in Pakistan bounced back in the month of June after a declining trend since March as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the country, triggering lockdowns and affecting the economy, local media reported Thursday.
Cement sales grew by 76.92 percent to 4.6 million tonnes in June this year from 2.6 million tonnes in the previous month of May, local media reported while quoting statistics released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).
Cement sales stood at 4.5 million tonnes in February but in the next three months, it declined to 3.7 million tonnes in March, 3.5 million tonnes in April and then a steep slump in May when sales declined to 2.6 million tonnes, showed the APCMA statistics.
Cement companies' sales increased by 29.58 percent in June 2020 compared to the corresponding period last year when sales were recorded at 3.55 million tonnes, the APCMA statistics showed.
A spokesperson of the APCMA while appreciating the revival of cement sales, predicted that the local cement demand will grow by 10 percent in the fiscal year 2020-21.
A recently announced incentive-based government package for the construction industry to increase job opportunities and provide relief to lower strata of the society, has a positive impact on the uptake of construction materials including cement, the spokesperson told local media. Enditem
