Concrete

Cement makers cheer as construction activity revives

Published

13 years ago

July 29, 2012

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A weak monsoon and lower dispatches to wholesalers past year have resulted in a healthy growth for major cement manufacturing companies in June this year. An aggregate of cement dispatches of five major cement-manufacturing companies grew 8% year-on-year (YoY) in June 2012.The duration between June and August is a lean period for construction activity in major parts of the country. In June last year, a good monsoon had led to a lower construction activity. However, due to delay in monsoon this year, there is an increase in construction activity, which has increased the demand for cement.Another positive development for companies is the declining coal prices. Richards Bay Index – the benchmark for global coal prices – is down nearly 20 per cent since the beginning of the year. Although, depreciation of the rupee has offset the benefits, companies still stand to gain from lower coal prices.It is estimated that around 500 kg of coal is required for manufacturing 1 million tonne of cement. However, due to an increase in freight costs, companies would find it difficult to improve their margins significantly. In March this year, Indian Railways had increased the freight rates for cement by about 20 per cent.In addition, companies were able to increase cement prices due to a pickup in demand. Cement prices across the country on an average increased by Rs 5-10 per kg in June 2012. The increase was higher in western and northern region where monsoons were significantly below normal.

Concrete

Star Cement launches ‘Star Smart Building Solutions’

Published

1 week ago

June 17, 2025

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Star Cement has launched ‘Star Smart Building Solutions,’ a new initiative aimed at promoting sustainable construction practices, as per a recent news report. This venture introduces a range of eco-friendly products, including tile adhesives, tile cleaners and grouts, designed to enhance durability and reduce environmental impact. The company plans to expand this portfolio with additional value-added products in the near future. By focusing on sustainable materials and innovative building solutions, Star Cement aims to contribute to environmentally responsible construction and meet the evolving needs of modern infrastructure development.

Image source:https://www.starcement.co.in/

Concrete

Nuvoco Vistas reports record quarterly EBITDA

Published

1 week ago

June 17, 2025

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Nuvoco Vistas reported its highest-ever quarterly consolidated EBITDA of Rs.556 crore in Q4 FY25, with annual EBITDA at Rs.1,391 crore. Cement sales reached 19.4 MMT in FY25, with Q4 contributing 5.7 MMT. Revenue rose 4 per cent YoY to Rs.3,042 crore in Q4. Net debt reduced by Rs.390 crore to Rs.3,640 crore. The company received NCLT approval for acquiring Vadraj Cement, targeting 31 MMTPA capacity by FY27. Key marketing initiatives, expanding RMX and MBM businesses, and a focus on sustainability (457 kg CO2/tonne) drove performance. Nuvoco remains focused on premiumisation, operational efficiency, and market expansion.

Image source:nuvoco.com

Concrete

UltraTech Cement increases capacity by 1.4Mt/yr

Published

1 week ago

June 17, 2025

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UltraTech Cement has expanded its production capacity by 1.4 million tonnes per annum (Mt/yr) through a combination of debottlenecking efforts and operational efficiency upgrades across several of its plants. The enhancements include an addition of 0.6Mt/yr in grinding capacity at the Nagpur facility in Maharashtra and a combined 0.8Mt/yr at the Panipat and Jhajjar units in Haryana. With these upgrades, the company’s total domestic grey cement capacity has risen to 184.8Mt/yr, while its global capacity now stands at 190.2Mt/yr.