Economy & Market

“India has miles to go in cement consumption”

Published

7 years ago

May 31, 2018

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Anoop Kumar Saxena, CEO – VICAT in India

How do you see the growth prospects for the industry during the current year and in the next three years? Have you seen any hints on growth, by now?
India has miles to go in terms of cement consumption and there is enough headroom for strong cement demand. Two strong reasons:
(i) Even after seven decades of independence, and nearly two-and-a-half decades of globalisation, India is one of the lowest per capita consumers of cement. Average consumption in India is just approximately 200 kg/year compared to 1,700 kg/year in China and 660 kg/year in Vietnam (comparable developing economy). The global average consumption is far ahead at 580 kg per year.
(ii) Although India is the second-largest producer of cement, there is disconnect between country’s GDP growth and cement output.
Prudent policy formulation and robust spending by the Government to create infrastructure & housing for all can drive floating hope into reality. Cement demand is expected to grow approximately 7 to 8 per cent YoY over the next 2-3 years. Currently, country’s cement production capacity is 441 MT and expected to increase to 467.3 MT by 2019 and likely to further increase to 484.1 MT by 2020-2021. Significant concentration of the cement capacities will continue to increase in southern and western regions largely due to bulk of limestone reserves in these regions. We expect cement demand to recover healthily from the impact of the government’s demonetisation policy and the early impact of GST implementation over the next couple of quarters.
Last quarter performance is indicating that rural housing and infrastructure demand is recovering strongly, although demand has not picked up in the real estate segment. Cement demand increased by 11 per cent and 18 per cent respectively in third and fourth quarter of 2017-18.What are the triggers for your views on the Industry’s growth prospects and how they are set to impact demand in your view?
Rising urbanisation, an increasing number of households and higher employment are primarily driving the demand for housing, accounting for
60 per cent of total cement consumption.
?? Initiatives undertaken by the government are expected to provide an impetus to construction activity in rural and semi-urban areas through large infrastructure and housing development projects, respectively.
?? The affordable housing segment has been in focus with two major schemes providing a fillip to growth, including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).What are the changing dynamics of cost and profitability of the industry during the current year, from the present standpoint?
Cost inflation (primarily energy cost) and low pricing power are key challenges of Industry during current year. The demand-supply balance drives cement pricing, like in any other commodities. Given that demand-supply gap will continue in the range of 100-140 MT for the next two to three years, overall capacity utilisation will hover 70-75 per cent. Hence, we believe that there will not be pricing power to drive the profitability, prices will go up and down during period with no significant improvement at all.
Input cost curve has continued to deteriorate due to higher diesel, petcoke and coal prices, as well as an increase in import duty of petcoke. It is very difficult for industry to pass the hike in input prices immediately as because consolidations by various players, the market share stabilisation would be key agenda which will not keep in driving price increase. Plant efficiency, logistics efficiency and mitigate the risk of increasing cost of fuel and other raw material to maintain the profitability.How do you see the three segments of cement demand – residential, infrastructure and industrial construction – are set to boost/impact cement demand this year?
Housing: (55 per cent) sector is expected to grow by 5-6 % mainly due to following reason:
?? Housing for all (High Impact): Govt. plans to build 20 million units for economically weaker section by 2002.
?? Several Housing Projects planned by Government for rural segment like PMAY. Also focus on urban sector
Industrial commercial sector is expected to grow by 5-6 per cent mainly due to following reason: Currently weak investment from this segment. But expected to pickup on the back of key policy such as Make in India, etc.
Infrastructure (25 per cent) sector is expected to grow by 10.5 to 12.5 per cent mainly due to following reasons:
Roads & highways (high impact): Investment to increase by 1.8x in five years to Rs 9.8 trillion. Other projects like Bharatmala investment ($16 billion) to drive growth.
Railway (high impact): $134 billion earmarked by RailMin towards sector development through 2019. Further eight corridors ($12-13 billion), several metro projects to drive the demand, metro rail projects, irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Navi Mumbai Airport Project.Housing is by far the biggest contributor to cement demand. Do you see any major recovery on the sector during the reminder of the year with the government’s thrust to ‘Housing for All’ scheme?
Housing accounts for 60 per cent of total demand and rest is accounted by commercial and industrial establishments. Currently, housing demand is not following traditional pattern of market share of total demand and trend shows that demand in this sector has slowed down. However, initiatives undertaken by the government are expected to provide an impetus to construction activity in rural and semi-urban areas through large infrastructure and housing development projects, respectively. Housing for all schemes are largely driven by two major scheme; PMAY-U and PMAY-G and this can drive the recovery of cement demand in housing sector.Pre-poll year is considered to be an infra year. What are the infrastructure areas that may get boost going by last Budget?
We expect demand growth to gain momentum in FY19 because of a relatively steady base and parliamentary elections leading to announcement of new infrastructure projects and the rush for completion of existing projects to showcase them during the elections.What is the demand growth do you foresee for the year in the geographies of your operations and what are triggers?
The southern region will continue to add capacity, although the pace of new addition is likely to taper at approximately 2.4 per cent CAGR over FY16-FY20E. However, with a strong base we expect the demand-supply gap to be significant for any real strong pricing momentum despite the recent strong pick up in the demand. Strong demand revival from the region driven by twin state development of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana since 3QFY18 will keep the demand momentum continuing. However, Shree Cement entry in south India will make south India market more competitive.How the consolidation underway in the industry and expansions coming on stream are set to impact capacity utilisation of the industry during the year?
India’s cement industry is fragmented. About 55-60 per cent market share is controlled by large players and consolidation in cement sector has not significantly changed the share of large players as in the past few years, most of deals are signed between large players. New and mid-size players are likely to lead the consolidation in order to secure market share quickly and get exposure to the desired regions.
QoQ margin for south Indian cement will reduce due to subdued pricing in January-March 2018 and an increase in cost pressure. Higher proportion of sales to infrastructure projects could further dent realisations.

Economy & Market

Fornnax launches world’s biggest secondary/fine shredder for AFR pre-processing

Published

1 week ago

November 7, 2025

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Fornnax has introduced its latest breakthrough – the R-MAX3300, for handling low-density waste streams, offering a powerful solution for cement AFR plants.

Fornnax Technology has launched its latest breakthrough – the R-MAX3300, the biggest secondary shredder in its class. The unveiling took place on 14th October, 2025 at IFAT India 2025 in Mumbai, one of the most prestigious events for environmental technologies, waste management, and sustainable resource innovation.

The launch ceremony was graced by esteemed industry leaders and dignitaries. The guest list included Md Fahim Sopariwala, CEO, GEPIL India; Sridhar Jagannathan, Vice President, Zigma Global; Priyesh Bhatti, CEO, GEPIL India; Shailendra Singh, Deputy General Manager, Prism Johnson (Cement Division); Ulhas Parlikar, Global Consultant, Waste Management, Circular Economy, Policy Advocacy and Co-processing; Saurabh Palsania, Joint President (Strategic Sourcing), Shree Cement; Rajeev Patel, DGM (Process), Mangalam Cement; and Anumodan Kumar Dubey, Mangalam Cement.

This state-of-the-art equipment represents a significant advancement for India’s recycling and waste processing landscape, offering a powerful solution for cement AFR plants and waste-to-energy facilities.

Building on the proven performance and legacy of the R Series secondary shredder, which has long been trusted for high-density materials like tyres and cables, the newly introduced R-MAX3300 is specifically engineered for handling low-density waste streams. These include Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Commercial and Industrial (C&I) waste, Bulky waste, Legacy waste, Wood waste, and Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste.

By incorporating advanced shredding technology, the R-MAX3300 enables seamless and highly efficient production of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) within the ideal particle size range of 30 to 50 mm. Its design prioritises versatility, durability and superior performance, directly supporting industrial operations that demand consistency and scale.

“The R-MAX3300 represents a monumental leap forward in our vision to become a global leader by 2030 in recycling technology through innovation,” said Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, Fornnax Technology. “With the rising challenges of waste management in India and globally, this machine is not just a product; it’s a powerful tool for change. We engineered it to handle the most difficult waste streams with unparalleled efficiency, turning what was once considered unusable waste into a valuable resource. It directly addresses the urgent demand for effective, large-scale shredding technology that can support cement kilns and waste-to-energy facilities in achieving the desired output,” he added.

The launch of the R-MAX3300 arrives at a pivotal moment. India currently generates over 160,000 tons of municipal solid waste daily, while government-led initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Mission and Smart Cities are accelerating the demand for RDF and waste-to-energy solutions. Simultaneously, the global industrial shredder market is expected to grow at a 5–6 per cent CAGR, driven by stricter recycling regulations and increasing waste generation.

Kundaria further emphasised, “Our commitment goes beyond just selling machinery; it’s about empowering our customers to achieve lasting efficiency, sustainability, and growth. We see ourselves as a trusted partner who stands beside them at every step – from technology deployment to ongoing support, ensuring they can rely on Fornnax not only for performance but also for consistency, dependability, and long-term value.”

The R-MAX3300 is equipped to handle high-throughput processing of pre-shredded or coarse materials, making it ideal for SRF/RDF production, composting pre-treatment, and volume reduction for logistics optimisation. It is expected to play a crucial role in Integrated Waste Management Projects (IWMP) and bio-mining operations both within India and globally.

With this grand launch, Fornnax continues to set global benchmark and move decisively towards the vision of becoming global leader in recycling technology by 2030 that is state-of-the-art, innovative, economical, efficient reliable and eco-friendly.

Concrete

Fornnax wins Top Domestic Sales Award 2024-25 by AIRIA

Published

1 week ago

November 7, 2025

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Fornnax bags the Excellence in Top Domestic Sales Award 2024–25 by the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA).

The company has been honoured with the Excellence in Top Domestic Sales Award 2024–25 by the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) under the Rubber Machineries and Equipment category. The award recognises Fornnax’s exceptional market leadership, strong sales performance and continued commitment to sustainable innovation.

With over a decade of specialised expertise, Fornnax has emerged as a transformative force in India’s tyre recycling sector, commanding nearly 90 per cent of the domestic market while steadily expanding across Europe, Australia, the GCC, and other global regions.

Fornnax’s advanced recycling systems—comprising the SR-Series Primary Shredders, R-Series Secondary Shredders, and TR-Series Granulators—are engineered for durability, efficiency, and high-output performance. These technologies are widely deployed in end-of-life tyre (ELT) processing and other waste management applications, reinforcing Fornnax’s reputation as a trusted industry partner.

Expressing his gratitude, Jignesh Kundaria, Director & CEO, Fornnax, said, “We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition from AIRIA. This award validates the trust that our customers and partners have placed in us over the years. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our clients and partners who have been an integral part of this journey and our continued success. At Fornnax, our goal has always been to empower the recycling industry with innovative, high-performance solutions that make sustainability both achievable and profitable.”

The award also underscores Fornnax’s pivotal role in promoting circular economy practices by enabling the conversion of end-of-life tyres and rubber waste into reusable raw materials. Through ongoing R&D, new product innovation, and a solutions-driven approach, the company continues to help industries worldwide adopt eco-conscious, scalable recycling models.

As India’s recycling landscape evolves to meet global sustainability benchmarks, Fornnax stands at the forefront with internationally certified technology, a proven track record, and a clear vision for environmentally responsible growth.

Concrete

Pacific Avenue Completes Acquisition of FLSmidth Cement; Rebrands as Fuller Technologies

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2025

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The acquisition of FLSmidth Cement by Pacific Avenue Capital Partners marks a new phase of focused growth and innovation.
Rebranded as Fuller® Technologies, the company will continue delivering world-class solutions with renewed investment and direction.

Pacific Avenue Capital Partners (“Pacific Avenue”), a global private equity firm, has completed its acquisition of FLSmidth Cement following the fulfillment of all customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The transaction includes all of FLSmidth Cement’s intellectual property, technology, employees, manufacturing facilities, and global sales and service organizations.

As Fuller Technologies, the company will continue to seamlessly support its customers while advancing its robust portfolio of capital equipment, digital solutions, and service offerings. With a sharpened focus on Pyro and Grinding technologies, alongside core brands such as PFISTER®, Ventomatic®, Pneumatic Conveying, and Automation, Fuller Technologies aims to deliver enhanced value and reliability across the cement and industrial sectors.

Under Pacific Avenue’s ownership, Fuller Technologies will benefit from increased investment in people, products, and innovation. The dedicated management team will work to optimize operations and strengthen customer relationships, ensuring continuity and excellence during this exciting transition.

“We are proud to be the new owner of FLSmidth Cement, now Fuller Technologies, a global leader with a rich history of providing mission-critical equipment and aftermarket solutions in the cement and industrial sectors. We will continue to build upon the Company’s legacy of being at the forefront of technological innovation, service delivery, and product quality as we support our customers’ operations,” says Chris Sznewajs, Managing Partner and Founder of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners.

Pacific Avenue’s deep experience in executing complex industrial carve-outs and guiding standalone businesses into their next growth phase will be instrumental in shaping Fuller Technologies’ future. With a proven track record in building products and capital equipment industries, Pacific Avenue is poised to help Fuller Technologies optimize performance, accelerate growth, and create long-term value for its customers and stakeholders worldwide.