Prices of Cement and Steel See Slight Decline Across the Country

Islamabad:The prices of cement and steel have witnessed a slight reduction across the country, providing some relief to the construction sector. According to media reports, the minimum price of local steel bars (rebar) has now been recorded at PKR 226,000 per ton, with the maximum price reaching PKR 232,000 per ton.

Since November, the average price of construction-grade steel has dropped by approximately PKR 5,000 to PKR 8,000 per ton. The prices of steel vary across different cities, with Karachi recording the price of steel at PKR 232,000 per ton, Lahore at PKR 282,000 per ton, and Multan at PKR 226,000 per ton. In Islamabad, the steel price is PKR 230,000 per ton, while Faisalabad also reports a price of PKR 226,000 per ton.

Branded steel prices are also relatively high, with a minimum price of PKR 246,000 per ton and a maximum of PKR 254,000 per ton.

It is noteworthy that at the beginning of 2024, the price of steel had soared to PKR 305,000 per ton, but due to the decrease in the value of the US dollar, the price of construction steel has reduced by approximately PKR 50,000 per ton on an annual basis.

### Cement Prices

In the cement market, retail prices have seen a minor decline in the week of December 2024. In the northern cities of the country, the average retail price of cement per bag is PKR 1,433, while in the southern cities, it stands at PKR 1,385 per bag.

In Islamabad, the average retail price of cement per bag during this period was PKR 1,397, in Rawalpindi PKR 1,388, in Gujranwala PKR 1,450, in Sialkot PKR 1,430, in Lahore PKR 1,493, in Faisalabad PKR 1,430, in Sargodha PKR 1,420, in Multan PKR 1,441, in Bahawalpur PKR 1,477, in Peshawar PKR 1,450, and in Bannu PKR 1,390 per bag.

In Karachi, the average retail price of cement per bag is PKR 1,340, in Hyderabad PKR 1,340, in Sukkur PKR 1,450, in Larkana PKR 1,400, in Quetta PKR 1,435, and in Khuzdar, the price stands at PKR 1,347 per bag.

### How to Check Steel Quality

When purchasing steel, buyers should be mindful of certain factors to avoid being misled or facing potential losses. Steel bars with small branches protruding from them are usually made from scrap material, and it is advisable to avoid purchasing such products.

Additionally, buyers should remember that 60-grade steel is more expensive than 40-grade steel. It is essential to verify the grade mentioned on each length of steel to ensure that they are not being misled into purchasing a lower-quality product. Always check the details on each piece of steel to prevent being deceived.