Economy & Market

Prices to remain range bound in FY19

Published

7 years ago

May 31, 2018

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The cement industry is gasping for higher revenues. The industry, which has already been reeling under price pressures with most of the major players focusing on volume growth, is facing the challenge of rising costs, thus making a case for hiking prices. But many analysts are of the view that the industry has to wait till the unseason – rainy season – is over, even if they want to do so.
Cement prices have remained range bound in the past four years. They are mainly driven by regional capacity, utilization levels and demand within the region. Pricing scenario in FY18 was soft as all-India average realisation did not witness any improvement. Meanwhile, CARE Ratings in its annual review pegged the cement price hover in the range of 5 per cent either way from Rs 317/50 kg bag post GST over FY19 (2018-19), indicating that the price is unlikely to spike from the present standpoint.
"Prices are expected to remain range bound and may fall further with addition of new capacity especially in the Southern region. We expect the all-India prices to remain in the range of Rs. 317 (+/- 5% per bag post GST) during the year," said Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, CARE Ratings, in his long term forecast in the report released early May 2018.
On the other hand, input prices rose, particularly petcoke and diesel prices, besides logistics costs. A persistent spike in petcoke and diesel prices remains a major headwind for the industry. "Having surged by ~22-25 per cent in FY18, petcoke prices continued to move northwards till date in FY19. Industry’s power and fuel cost and freight cost together surged by ~Rs200-300/tonne in last one year. We believe cement industry is unlikely to witness any meaningful reduction in fuel prices in FY19E. Hence, realisation improvement is the prime way to support profitability," says Binod Kumar Modi – Senior Analyst – Reliance Securities, in response to a query.
Region-wise, CARE Ratings sees, Western and Eastern regions with favourable demand continue to record higher price for cement. These regions are driven by demand from infrastructure, housing and commercial real estate.
However, Sabnavis says, "Southern region with the highest installed cement capacity in the country (approx. 158MnMT) continued to witness lowest cement prices." Overall capacity utilization in the Southern region has been in the range of 55-57% post-2014. The same could be attributed to lower than expected growth in demand from housing and infrastructure development in the region. Additionally, eastern region witnessed considerable capacity addition, making it self-sufficient, which was previously met by supply from the southern region. The prices in Southern region are expected to remain subdued over the next 12-18 months. The prices would strengthen once capacity utilization moves above 60%.
Coming to the short-term trends, Vivek Maheshwari, Investment Analyst from the leading investment house CLSA, says, "Channel checks indicate that market share remains a focus for players and has impacted cement prices in most regions, with the exception of a few states. As a result, the price hikes of April and May have largely been reversed, with prices back to March levels in several markets."
In April 2018, rising demand resulted in an increase in cement prices in the Ahmedabad and Hyderabad markets by Rs 20/bag and Rs 10/bag respectively in April 2018 on an M-o-M basis. However, rising supplies resulted in prices remaining range-bound in the Kolkata market.
"There are pockets where the industry is trying to raise prices but dealer feedback is that a ‘real’ hike may only be visible post-monsoon," Maheshwari adds. Thus, margin-accretive cement pricing is still eluding this core industry.

Concrete

15th Cement EXPO: A Step Forward in Cement Innovation

Published

2 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

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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.