Semis and cold rolled steel production decline in August

Pakistan’s iron and steel products production declined by 11.56pct YoY in August 2026, while output during July-August fell by 11.48pct, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data on large-scale manufacturing (LSM).

Billet production fell by 32.76pct YoY to 195,000 tons in August, compared with 290,000 tons a year earlier. Output was down 2.5pct from July’s 200,000 tons.

During July-August 2026-27, billet and ingot production totalled 395,000 tons, down 32.48pct from 585,000 tons in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

Production of cold-rolled products declined by 3.70pct YoY to 276,000 tons in August, compared with 286,600 tons in August 2025. Output was almost unchanged from July’s 276,500 tons.

Cumulative production of these cold-rolled steel products reached 552,500 tons during July-August 2026-27, down 3.63pct from 573,300 tons a year earlier.

Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing (LSM) output increased by 0.67pct YoY in August but declined by 4.96pct compared with July. The manufacturing index stood at 113.19 in August, against 112.45 a year earlier and 119.10 in July.

During July-August 2026-27, LSM output grew by 1.85pct YoY, with the index reaching 116.14 compared with 114.03 in the same period last year.

The PBS attributed the mixed industrial performance to changes across manufacturing sectors. While output increased in petroleum products, automobiles and several other industries, production declined in sectors including fertilizer, steel, food, beverages, textiles and leather products.

The LSM sector plays a critical role in Pakistan's economy, accounting for nearly 70pct of overall manufacturing and contributing 8.2pct to GDP. It includes industries employing 10 or more workers across a broad range of manufacturing activities.