Dawn Business
• Cement despatches rise 11pc to 3.89m tonnes • Urea offtake may jump 85pc to 463,000 tonnes KARACHI: Oil sales declined by seven per cent year-on-year and 6pc month-on-month to 1.36 million tonnes in April, mainly due to higher fuel prices amid the US-Israel war on Iran affecting the Middle East. Oil-marketing companies (OMCs) recorded sales of 1.36m tonnes in April. This brought total sales for 10MFY26 to 13.8m tonnes, reflecting a 4pc year-on-year increase compared to 13.2m tonnes in 10MFY25, according to Myesha Sohail of Topline Securities. In April, motor spirit (petrol) prices increased by 21pc to an average of Rs374.73 per litre from Rs310.53 in March. High-speed diesel (HSD) prices rose 26pc month-on-month to an average of Rs409.61 per litre from Rs325.21 in March. Petrol sales declined by 7pc year-on-year and 8pc month-on-month to 615,000 tonnes in April. Total petrol sales in 10MFY26 stood at 6.4m tonnes, up 4pc year-on-year. HSD sales also fell by 12pc year-on-year and 7pc month-on-month to 550,000 tonnes, while cumulative sales in 10MFY26 increased 5pc year-on-year to 5.9m tonnes. Furnace oil (FO) sales surged 63pc year-on-year and 56pc month-on-month to 137,000 tonnes, possibly due to a shift towards FO as a readily available alternative amid rising prices and constrained fuel supply. However, total FO sales in 10MFY26 declined by 11pc year-on-year to 529,000 tonnes. Cement despatches Total cement despatches, including local and export, increased 11.14 per cent year-on-year to 3.890 million tonnes in April. According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), local cement despatches during April this year stood at 3.217m tonnes, compared to 2.677m tonnes in April 2025, showing an increase of 20.17pc. However, exports declined by 18.22pc from 823,032 tonnes in April 2025 to 673,058 tonnes in April this year. During 10MFY26, total cement despatches (domestic and exports) reached 42.396m tonnes, up 9.83pc from 38.600m tonnes a year earlier. Domestic sales increased by 11.33pc to 34.785m tonnes, compared to 31.244m tonnes in 10MFY25. Exports were 3.47pc higher, rising to 7.611m tonnes in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, compared to 7.355m tonnes during the same period last year. Topline Securities reported that earnings of the listed cement sector stood at Rs108bn in 9MFY26, up 17pc year-on-year. Average bag prices in the north region increased to Rs1,417 per bag in 3QFY26, compared to Rs1,366 in 3QFY25. In the south region, prices rose to Rs1,451 per bag from Rs1,382 in the same period. Urea offtake Musab Ahmed of Sherman Securities said provisional data suggests urea offtake for April is expected to reach 463,000 tonnes, reflecting an 85pc year-on-year increase compared to 251,000 tonnes in April 2025. The rise is attributed to improved farm economics, supported by an increase in the minimum support price for wheat to Rs3,200-3,600 per maund from Rs2,200-2,600 earlier, along with procurement drives by federal and provincial governments, which enhanced farmers’ purchasing power and fertiliser affordability. Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026
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