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A Mix Bag

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The Union Budget proposals, prima facie, appear a mixed bag for the second largest cement industry in the world. With margins under pressure and production suffering from increased cost, India’s cement industry had demanded respite from high VAT, simpler excise duty structure, scrapping import duty on fuel inputs, etc. However, the Budget 2011-12 presented to the parliament on 28 February 2011 is far from these short-term demands. In his Budget speech, the Finance Minister said "As a measure of relief to cement industry, I propose to replace the existing excise duty rates with composite rates having an ad valorem and specific component with some rationalisation. The basic customs duty on two critical raw materials of this industry, viz, pet coke and gypsum is proposed to be reduced to 2.5 per cent". A day after the presentation, cement prices in Mumbai were raised by Rs 10 for a 50-kg bag.

The tax proposals are likely to create implementation issues in the interim period. The Budget, within its perimeters and called to resolved tax anomaly, has consolidated the specified and ad-valorem rates, the move likely to push up effective prices. As a token, it has also halved the customs duties on petroleum coke and gypsum. While there are not many cement makers using pet coal, gypsum is used in small quantities (about five per cent of total volume) and hence, have limited benefit. Further, the budget has also imposed one per cent excise duty on coal, a new introduction. Coal India, has also decided to revise coal prices upwards, although it did not devolve the quantum but the hikes are likely to be steep while the imported coal costs continue to remain firmly high. This will add to the cement cost, adversely impacting the cement industry.

A closer look reveals a brighter side. The Budget would sustain the buoyant economic growth rate through increased spending on infrastructure creating demand for cement in the longer term. Historically, government spending on infrastructure, particularly in road sector had a positive impact on cement demand. The budget proposes to increase total government spending by 13 per cent in 2011-12 while the allocation for infrastructure sector has been stepped up by 23 per cent. Further, to boost infrastructure development it has allowed tax free bonds to be issued by Railways, NHAI, HUDCO and ports. Besides the infrastructure sectors, the Budget has provided ample stimulant to the housing sector which consumes around 70 per cent of cement supply.

Given the favourable economic conditions and government’s endeavour for inclusive growth and increased spending, the cement industry will see a quick resurgence from the demand pangs. In 2011-12 production is likely to increase by over 11 per cent from the five per cent expected this year. However, cost would continue to dog the industry, higher demand would negate this impact.

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Economy & Market

Hindalco Buys US Speciality Alumina Firm for $125 Million

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This strategic acquisition marks a significant investment in speciality alumina, a key step by Aditya Birla Group’s metals flagship towards becoming future-ready by scaling its high-value, technology-led materials portfolio.

Hindalco Industries, the world’s largest aluminium company by revenue and the metals flagship of the $28 billion Aditya Birla Group, has announced the acquisition of a 100 per cent equity stake in US-based AluChem Companies—a prominent manufacturer of speciality alumina—for an enterprise value of $125 million. The transaction will be executed through Aditya Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary.

This acquisition represents a pivotal investment in speciality alumina and advances Hindalco’s strategy to expand its high-value, technology-led materials portfolio.

Hindalco’s speciality alumina business, a key pillar of its value-added strategy, has delivered consistent double-digit growth in recent years. It has emerged as a high-growth, high-margin vertical within the company’s portfolio. As speciality alumina finds expanding applications across electric mobility, semiconductors, and precision ceramics, the deal positions Hindalco further up the innovation curve, enabling next-generation alumina solutions and value-accretive growth.

Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, called the acquisition an important step in their global strategy to build a leadership position in value-added, high-tech materials.

“Our strategic foray into the speciality alumina space will not only accelerate the development of future-ready, sustainable solutions but also open new pathways to pursue high-impact growth opportunities. By integrating advanced technologies into our value chain, we are reinforcing our commitment to self-reliance, import substitution, and building scale in innovation-led businesses.”

Ronald P Zapletal, Founder, AluChem Companies, said the partnership with Hindalco would provide AluChem the ability and capital to scale up faster and build scale in North America.

“AluChem will benefit from their world-class sustainability and safety standards and practices, access to integrated operations and a consistent, reliable raw material supply chain. Their ability to leverage R&D capabilities and a talented workforce adds tremendous value to our innovation pipeline, helping drive market expansion beyond North America.”

An Eye on the Future

The global speciality alumina market is projected to grow significantly, with rising demand for tailored solutions in sectors such as ceramics, electronics, aerospace, and medical applications. Hindalco currently operates 500,000 tonnes of speciality alumina capacity and aims to scale this up to 1 million tonnes by FY2030.

Commenting on the development, Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries, said the deal reinforced their commitment to innovation and global expansion.

“As alumina gains increasing relevance in critical and clean-tech sectors, AluChem’s advanced chemistry capabilities will significantly enhance our ability to serve these fast-evolving markets. Importantly, it deepens our high-value-added portfolio with differentiated products that drive profitability and strengthen our global competitiveness.”

AluChem adds a strong North American presence to Hindalco’s portfolio, with an annual capacity of 60,000 tonnes across three advanced manufacturing facilities in Ohio and Arkansas. The company is a long-standing supplier of ultra-low soda calcined and tabular alumina, materials prized for their thermal and mechanical stability and widely used in precision engineering and high-performance refractories.

Saurabh Khedekar, CEO of the Alumina Business at Hindalco Industries, said the acquisition unlocked immediate synergies, including market access and portfolio diversification.

“Hindalco plans to work with AluChem’s high performance technology solutions and scale up production of ultra-low soda alumina products to drive a larger global market share.”

The transaction is expected to close in the upcoming quarter, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

 

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Concrete

Shree Cement reports 2025 financial year results

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Shree Cement posted revenue of US$2.38 billion for FY2025, marking a 5.5 per cent decline year-on-year. Operating costs rose 2.9 per cent to US$2.17 billion, resulting in an EBITDA of US$528 million—down 12 per cent from the previous year. Net profit fell 50 per cent to US$141 million. The company reported cement sales of 9.84Mt in Q4 FY2025, a 3.3 per cent increase from 9.53Mt in Q4 FY2024, with premium products making up 16 per cent of total sales.

Image source:https://newsmantra.in/

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Concrete

Rekha Onteddu to become director at Sagar Cements

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Sagar Cements has announced the appointment of Rekha Onteddu as a non-executive independent director, effective 30 June 2025. According to People in Business News, Rekha Onteddu is currently serving in a similar capacity at Andhra Cements, the parent company of Sagar Cements.

Image source:https://sagarcements.in/

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