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Market to remain sluggish

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The macro economic conditions indicate a sluggish market due to challenging conditions and subdued demand.

The financial results of most cement companies showed a dip in net sales and profit margins. However, the companies see a positive outlook on a long term perspective due to the government?s steps on various infrastructure segments.

Ambuja Cements
Ambuja Cements reported 45 per cent fall in its June quarter net profit at Rs 226 crore. Net sales were down eight per cent at Rs 2,493 crore (Rs 2,706 crore). Sales volume increased marginally by two per cent to 5.88 million tonne (5.79 mt) in June quarter.The decline in cement prices by 10 per cent coupled with additional depreciation of Rs 22 crore led to lower profit, according to the company. Its logistics cost was up five per cent at Rs 715 crore (Rs 681 crore) largely due to increase in railway freight rates. The raw material cost was down marginally at Rs 217 crore (Rs 220 crore), while that of power dipped six per cent to Rs 584 crore (Rs 624 crore). Finance cost of the company increased to Rs 32 crore (Rs 20 crore).

Lower raw material prices and the company?s attempt to improve operational efficiencies helped contain the overall cost, but it could not mitigate the impact of sharp fall in cement prices in certain states, it said. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation was down 35 per cent at Rs 384 crore (Rs 588 crore).

Ambuja Cements expects cement demand to remain weak in the September quarter with the onset of monsoon across the country. In the short-term, the macro-economic indicators point to sluggish cement demand, it said.

However, it added, the government?s initiatives towards housing, concrete roads, smart cities and emphasis on infrastructure development should boost demand in the long run. The company will continue to focus on improving operation efficiencies, it added.

UltraTech Cement
Ultratech Cement reported a 6 per cent fall in consolidated net profit at Rs 591 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2015-16. The group firm had posted net profit of Rs 628 crore in the year-ago period.

Its consolidated net sales rose by 6 per cent to Rs 6,372 crore in April-June quarter of 2015-16, from Rs 5,989 crore in the same quarter of 2014-15 fiscal, UltraTech said in a filing to the BSE. During the quarter under review, cement and clinker sales stood at 12.14 million tonne against 11.70 mt, it said.

"Energy costs improved by 7 per cent. The reduction in fuel prices was partially offset by the increase in railway freight. Input prices remained stable, except for the rise in royalty for limestone and levies under the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act, 2015," it added. UltraTech shareholders and creditors have approved the firm?s acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates Ltd?s (JAL) cement units at Bela and Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh that have a cement capacity of 4.9 million tonne per annum (MTPA) and a thermal power generation capacity 180 MW TPP, the company said.

"The Competition Commission of India has already approved the transaction. The transaction is now subject to approval from the High Court and getting all regulatory approvals," it added. UltraTech has also commissioned 15 MW waste heat recovery system, taking the company?s total power generation capacity from waste heat recovery to 48 MW.

ACC Ltd
ACC reported a 45 per cent drop in its consolidated net profit at Rs 133.5 crore for the second quarter ended June 30, on account of challenging market conditions and subdued demand. The firm had posted a net profit of Rs 243.2 crore in the corresponding quarter a year-ago, it said in a regulatory filing.

Total consolidated income fell marginally by 1.5 per cent to Rs 3,015.3 crore in April-June quarter from Rs 3,059.9 crore in the same quarter of 2014 fiscal, it added. The company attributed the decline in net profit to ?challenging? market conditions.

"Overall construction activity remained dull with weak expenditure on infrastructure and housing sectors leading to lower demand for cement. Surplus capacity in the industry heightened competition and made cement prices volatile," it said.

During the quarter, the company?s cement sales fell by 2.4 per cent to 6.20 million tonne (mt) from 6.35 mt in the year-ago period.

Source: Economic times and moneycontrol.com

Concrete

Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication 

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Singh brings 20+ years of brand and marketing experience, and will lead integrated corporate brand communication initiatives at Wonder Cement 

New Delhi

Wonder Cement, a leading cement manufacturer, has appointed Mahesh Singh as Vice President – Corporate Brand Communication. In his new role, he will oversee corporate brand strategy and communication, including digital and performance marketing, public relations, trade, events, exhibitions, sports and experiential marketing. 

Singh brings over two decades of experience across marketing and communications, with roles spanning the automotive industry, agencies and entrepreneurship. He spent more than a decade with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, working across integrated communication, media, digital, retail and consumer engagement. His stint also included helping build the company’s digital marketing capabilities. 

He moved to dentsu X India as Vice President – Strategy & Planning, working across categories such as automotive, auto components, electric vehicles, FMCG, consumer electronics, BFSI, apparel and brand consulting. His responsibilities included media and marketing strategy, product launches, content, performance marketing and consumer activations. 

Singh subsequently took an entrepreneurial route with Radiant Brands before joining Shriram Ltd (SPR Autotech) as Head – Marketing & Communications. There, his remit included brand and corporate strategy, communications, PR and ORM, retail identity, loyalty programmes and events. 

At Wonder Cement, Singh will be responsible for bringing together the company’s corporate brand communication initiatives across digital, performance marketing, PR, trade, sports and experiential platforms. The role will focus on creating an integrated approach to communication across consumers, trade partners and other key stakeholders. 

The appointment brings to Wonder Cement a marketer whose career has spanned the brand, agency and entrepreneurial sides of the communications ecosystem. 

Wonder Cement, part of the RK Group, is a cement manufacturer with roots in Rajasthan and a focus on quality, trust and transparency. The company has grown to six manufacturing plants, and a cement capacity of 21.5 MTPA. With more than 2,000 employees and a network of over 5,000 dealers, its operations span manufacturing, distribution and customer engagement, with a focus on consistent product quality and efficient execution. 

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Concrete

JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

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With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, 
Mumbai

JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the diversified JSW Group, today announced the successful commissioning of an additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Company’s growth strategy.

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, while its total clinker manufacturing capacity, including clinker capacity at its joint venture, JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

JSW Cement had commenced operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the commissioning of the additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit, the plant’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA, enhancing the company’s ability to cater to the growing cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a strategic mix of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended 30th September 2026, JSW Cement has also commissioned the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) at the Nagaur Integrated Plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said: “The commissioning of additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity at Nagaur is a key strategic priority for us and will accelerate JSW Cement’s expansion into North India. We look forward to servicing the growing needs of the region and contributing to the economic growth of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR area. I am delighted to share that the company has commissioned this grinding unit within the expected timeline, showcasing our project execution capabilities. Further, the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) are expected to substantially reduce our production costs going forward.”

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Concrete

UltraTech becomes first Indian cement firm to cross 2 GW green energy

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UltraTech Cement has crossed 2 GW of captive green energy capacity, with renewables and waste heat recovery meeting 48 per cent of its power needs.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited has surpassed 2 GW of installed green energy capacity for captive use, becoming the first cement company in India to achieve the milestone. The Aditya Birla Group company commissioned 116.55 MW of wind capacity at its Inter-State Transmission System-connected wind-solar hybrid project in Barmer, Rajasthan, along with 10 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System capacity at Sarlanagar Cement Works in Karnataka.

With these additions, UltraTech’s cumulative installed green energy capacity has reached 2,024 MW. This includes 1,580 MW of renewable energy capacity and 444 MW of waste heat recovery capacity, together meeting around 48 per cent of the company’s current power requirements.

The company said the milestone reflects the progress of its long-term energy transition strategy. In FY27 so far, nearly one-third of UltraTech’s 76 manufacturing units in India have maintained green energy utilisation above 50 per cent of their electricity requirements, while five units have crossed 95 per cent.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “Crossing the 2 GW green energy milestone is the result of a strategy we have pursued consistently over the past decade. Cement is an energy-intensive, hard-to-abate sector, and showing that reliability and growth can go hand in hand with a rapid shift to green energy sets a benchmark for the industry. With nearly half of our power needs now met through green energy, we are significantly less exposed to fossil fuel supply constraints and power price volatility. As we scale up renewables, waste heat recovery and battery storage across our operations, we are building an energy foundation for stable, long-term growth.”

UltraTech commissioned 430 MW of green energy capacity in FY26 and continues to expand its renewable energy and waste heat recovery portfolio.

The company is also progressively integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems across its operations to improve renewable energy utilisation and supply reliability.

In 2025, UltraTech operationalised what it described as India’s first on-site hybrid round-the-clock renewable energy project at Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The project combines solar, wind and battery storage.

As part of its decarbonisation strategy, UltraTech said it has not invested in new captive thermal power capacity for either greenfield projects or brownfield expansions at its integrated units for more than a decade.

The company said its expanding green energy portfolio is helping reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity and fossil fuel-based power, while lowering exposure to fluctuations in coal and electricity prices.

UltraTech aims to increase green energy’s share in its total power mix to 85 per cent by 2030. As a member of RE100, it has also committed to meeting 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewable sources by 2050.

UltraTech Cement, the cement flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total grey cement capacity of 210.1 MTPA and white cement and putty capacity of 3.5 MTPA. The company is also a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the GCCA Net Zero Concrete roadmap.

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