Cement players in northern India have decided to hike prices twice in March.
Comparatively, prices in the southern India continued their decline, dropping by Rs 5-10 per bag.
Companies were unable to effect any price hikes in the north during November-January as demand crashed because of the demonetisation exercise, and construction activity slackened further due to elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh. In this period, input costs like those of coal, pet coke and freight also rose.
After carrying through a Rs 10-15 price hike at the start of March, cement companies have again raised their product prices in the north – this time by Rs. 10 per bag. A bag of 50 kg now costs around Rs 300 and Rs 330.