Cement Stockists and Dealers Association of Mumbai predicts that the margins of cement companies will improve going forward. According the Association president Sanjay Ladiwala cement prices increased from Rs 18-25 across the board. Price hike started from Gujarat followed by Delhi, Mumbai and other part of Maharashtra, he added. The price hike in cement will spread to east but not to south because the areas are still affected by the north east monsoon. There is no pickup in demand in south and it will not happen soon in south. It may take a month or so. However, it should percolate in east, he added.