Economy & Market

Yet Another Googly!

Published

3 years ago

October 14, 2021

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The decision by the Railway Board to increase the Busy Season Surcharge (BSS) from 12 per cent to 15 per cent, effective from 1 October 2013, is yet another googly aimed at bulk commodity manufacturers like cement, which is already reeling under the pressure of dwindling demand and the spiralling cost of freight on the other.

The cost of freight has been rising due to the increase in oil prices, and when it comes to the last mile delivery, transportation costs by truck has also been on the rise; over a period of the last ten years , it has increased by nearly 50 per cent. In India, the transportation cost of cement is around Rs. 1.03 or Rs. 1.04 per tonne kilometre. The recent move to increase the BSS will have an additional impact on cement freight that is pegged at Rs 45 per tonne, and if one adds freight to coal movement, the impact could be as high as Rs 70 per tonne.

The move to hike the surcharge is detrimental to the cement industry which is already burdened with over capacity, to say the least; and it just does not augur well with the governmentÂ´s ambitious plans to enhance the share of manufacturing in the GDP from the present 16 per cent to 25 per cent by 2022. Given the acute supply constraints of input materials and logistics support to the cement industry which keep getting worse every year, experts feel that unless and until government policies create a climate which results in a committed increase of the demand and clear- cut measures to ensure requisite supply of input materials and logistics support, as well as lowering the taxation burden on the industry, the ambitious plans will just remain just that!

There is an urgent need for setting up a regulatory mechanism to regulate and rationalise all rail matters including tariff and demurrages which will insulate users from any further arbitrary and frequent revision of the tariff by way of change in classifications by imposing surcharges and cess, etc.

It is high time that the government acted on the recommendation given by the Working Group on Cement Industry for the 12th Year Plan. There needs to be simpler, crystal clear and more transparent policies to avoid any chances of misinterpretation.

The need of the hour is to develop multi-modal transport systems- rail, road, coastal shipping and IWT- for movement of cement and clinker, as it is not possible for rail and road transport alone to cater to the steeply increasing transportation requirement of the industry. The concepts of Ro-Ro (Roll on – Roll off- wherein trucks are directly loaded on rail wagons and unloaded for last mile road transport at destination terminals ), road railers on the entire network, as also double stacking, would be a welcome step, provided all likely operational, technical and infrastructure problems are resolved and multi-modal transportation be made cost- effective.

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.