BALAJI SALES,
Proprietor, Basant Agarwal.
I have been in the cement dealing business from the last 13 years, in Chattisgarh. We supply mainly in the Raipur region. While many people stock multiple brands, we are exclusive dealers for Lafarge.This has helped us to gain a market reputation. Our customers know that we are associated with a multinational brand and automatically respect us for that.
Here in Raipur, the largest selling and available cement is of 43 grade. Earlier, we used to get 53 grade and OPC in the market but from last six to seven years, the market has been almost completely taken over by 43 grade material. Here, 43 grade cement is used everywhere right from plastering to concrete making. It is used in bridges and housing projects with equal preference.
Our business was down in 2013 and we only hope it does not plummet lower in 2014. There is almost no money flowing in the market. Now that the Nagar Nigam elections are on the horizon, there will be a further reduction in infrastructure related construction activity.