Economy & Market

Cement and Housing

Published

7 years ago

December 30, 2017

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Since its invention, demand for cement has been largely driven by housing and infrastructure. For countries like ours, which depend mostly on brick and mortar for building homes, home-building has traditionally been a major driver of cement consumption. It is a different matter, that gradually, the demand from housing has moved from small individual houses to organised housing complexes and mass housing projects. However, in spite of all the changes in the market and the focus on infrastructure, even today housing continues to be 65 per cent of the Indian cement market. So, it must go without saying, that if housing grows rapidly, cement demand grows in a commensurate manner, which is sweet tiding for the industry indeed.

To get a sense of the impact of housing on cement consumption, every house (built in the affordable housing category) consumes roughly about 70 bags of cement, which amounts to 3.5 tonne. If we consider 22 million houses as considered in the project, it amounts to an incremental cement demand of 77 million tonne (MT). This also tallies with the empirical formula that every square feet of construction requires 25 kg or half a bag of cement. At 70 bags, such small houses translates to just about 140 square feet (sq ft). The actual sizes of the so-called affordable houses can be larger, and therefore, this incremental demand has an upside possibility. Now, we all know that 77 MT is a rather significant chunk of potential demand that will make the industry’s mouth literally water. What is the status of affordable housing project on the ground? According to a report published in a premier Business Daily, affordable housing segment rose 27 per cent in terms of new units launched in top eight cities of the country. More than 26,000 new units have been launched in 2017 so far, data from Cushman & Wakefield revealed. Of the total new launches in affordable units, 40 per cent were in Mumbai, followed closely by Kolkata and Pune.

All in all, there is no doubt whatsoever that the government’s current focus on spends on housing/infrastructure segment augurs well for the cement sector.

Recapitalisation of PSU banks, and gradual stabilisation of RERA regime will also have a positive down stream effect on the construction sector. The numbers thrown up by various departments indicate a healthy incremental cement demand of over 100 MT (cumulative) over the next five years, which translates to a demand CAGR of over 8 per cent, which we have not seen in recent times! Housing alone is slated to consume upwards of 75 MT of cement with the government’s target to build 22 million houses in 3-5 years. Road projects can add another 25-30 MT of consumption. Thus, just housing and road construction can add 100 MT of cement demand over the next five years, which is adequate for an exciting 10 per cent growth in capacity utilisation of the industry. Construction of other infrastructure such as airports, ports, and railway network will only add further to this tally. If all this fructify, we can expect the industry utilisation to touch nearly 85 per cent over the next 3-5 years.

The irony is, besides cement, we need sand also for house building. In fact, 120 cubic feet of sand is required for construction of 100 sq ft of home. Given that sand availability has become a serious issue in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana due to the ban on illegal mining in some of these regions, sand could become a serious spoilsport in this otherwise rosy story.

Sumit Banerjee Chairman, Editorial Advisory Board

Concrete

15th Cement EXPO: A Step Forward in Cement Innovation

Published

3 weeks ago

January 17, 2025

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Mumbai

Following the immense success of the 14th Cement EXPO, held on December 14-15, 2023, at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, the next edition of this premier event is set to take place in March 2025. The 15th Cement EXPO will be hosted at Yashobhoomi, Delhi, on 12th and 13th November 2025.

Meanwhile, the Cement Expo Forum 2025 is scheduled for 5th and 6th March 2025 at Taj Krishna in Hyderabad. This exciting 3-in-1 event, organised by FIRST Construction Council (FCC) and Indian Cement Review (ICR), will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to discuss the future of the cement sector.

Building on the Success of the 14th Cement EXPO

The 14th Cement EXPO was widely praised for its strong participation, attracting over 1,500 senior managers and decision-makers from across the cement industry. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, and Ali Emir Adiguzel, Founder and Director of the World Cement Association, alongside Pratap Padode, Founder of FIRST Construction Council (FCC). The two-tiered exhibition space featured cutting-edge products and innovations from top companies within the cement industry’s supply chain.

The event also garnered significant support from key government bodies, including the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government e-Marketplace (GeM), and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India (GoI).

Recognition and Excellence in the Cement Industry

The 7th Indian Cement Review Awards celebrated excellence by presenting awards to 11 companies in various categories, recognising their contributions to growth and innovation within the industry. Notably, Parth Jindal, Managing Director of JSW Cement, was honoured with the prestigious Indian Cement Review – Person of the Year Award 2023. Meanwhile, Vinita Singhania, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding leadership and contributions to the sector.

A Vision for Sustainability

With the theme of “Driving Sustainability Through Technology,” the 9th Indian Cement Review Conference hosted thought-provoking discussions and presentations, highlighting the industry’s commitment to adopting innovative, sustainable practices. The conference served as a platform for dialogue on the latest technological advancements aimed at transforming the cement sector, addressing key challenges, and fostering growth.

What to Expect from Cement EXPO 2025

The 15th Cement EXPO, along with the 10th Indian Cement Review Conference and the 8th Indian Cement Review Awards, is set to be even bigger and more impactful than the 2023 edition. With an expanded exhibition space, greater participation, and more in-depth discussions, the 2025 event will continue to drive the industry forward. This 3-in-1 event promises to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing transformation of the cement sector.

As the industry evolves, the 15th Cement EXPO 2025 will serve as a crucial platform for showcasing innovations, discussing emerging trends, and forging new partnerships to shape the future of cement and construction.

For more details:

Cement Expo Forum 2025: https://cementexpo.in/forum

15^th Cement Expo 2025: https://cementexpo.in/

FOR CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIPS

Sheetal Talreja

Mob: +91 842 2874 030

Email: sheetal@IndianCementReview.com

FOR EXHIBITION/SPONSORSHIPS

Sujoy Gomes

Mob: +91 865 7795 881

Email: Sujoy.g@ASAPPinfoGlobal.com

FOR SPONSORSHIPS

Ratan Rajbhar

Mob: +91 842 2874 021

Email: ratan.r@ASAPPinfoGlobal.com

Concrete

Construction sector growth slows to 8-10% for FY2025: ICRA

Published

3 weeks ago

January 15, 2025

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The revenue growth for construction companies in FY2025 is projected at 8-10 per cent, down from the earlier estimate of 12-15 per cent, according to ICRA. This marks the slowest growth in three years, driven by factors such as the Model Code of Conduct in Q1, prolonged monsoons, and milestone-based billing in Q2, particularly affecting road-focused players.
ICRA’s analysis of 19 companies with a combined turnover of Rs.1.28 trillion in FY2024 shows modest revenue growth of 1.5 per cent YoY in H1 FY2025. While execution is expected to improve in H2, FY2025 growth remains below the historical CAGR of ~15 per cent (FY2018-FY2024).
Order inflows in urban transport, water and sewage projects are healthy, but road-focused entities face challenges due to muted inflows and high competition. Operating margins are projected to remain range-bound at 10.5-11 per cent, with debt levels rising to manage working capital needs, though debt coverage metrics remain stable.

Concrete

SANY India expands Pune factory to boost production capacity

Published

3 weeks ago

January 15, 2025

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SANY India inaugurated a cutting-edge factory expansion at its 90-acre Pune facility, elevating its production capacity to over 14,000 units annually, alongside a robust fabrication capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes.

The advanced facility reinforces SANY’s commitment to ‘Make in India’ by enhancing localised manufacturing and supporting global exports. Chairman Xiang Wenbo highlighted the strategic importance of India as a global hub, while Vice Chairman Deepak Garg emphasised the expansion’s role in driving innovation and infrastructure development. This investment enhances efficiency, reduces timelines, and strengthens SANY’s leadership in the construction equipment sector.