Concrete

India follows Japanese tech in manufactured sand segmen

Published

5 years ago

December 21, 2021

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Manufactured sand is fulfilling 50 per cent of the total demand for sand being used in concrete mixtures in the country.

Manufactured sand is fulfilling 50 per cent of the total demand for sand being used in concrete mixtures in the country. Sanjay Nikam, CEO and Principal Business Consultant with Suru09 Business Services, feels that with the shortfall in river sand, the demand for m-sand will accelerate manifolds.

Can you explain the different types of sand?

There are different kinds of sands. For instance, the crush stone sand is a fine aggregate produced by crushing hard stone. The crush grail sand is a fine aggregate produced by crushing natural gravel; mix sand is a mix of the two. Then there is manufactured sand which is produced from resources other than natural resources

What are the key challenges faced by the manufactured sand industry?

The industry is facing many challenges. First and foremost is the challenge being the paucity of a uniform regulation pan India. Presently, different state governments have different licensing provisions, norms for royalty payments, sand dredging, etc. This results in disparity, cost undercutting and the easy availability of low-grade sand at cheaper rates in the market. Secondly, the crush quarry are smaller in size (25-50 acres) as compared to a cement mining area that can range beyond 1000 acres. That means one cannot have bigger area of operations. The output from these crusher plants range from 25,000 to 40,000 tons a month. Thirdly, logistics and local issues play a key role in this industry essentially because we are located very close to the city.

What is the ratio of aggregates and m-sand used in concrete?

In concrete, for every ton of cement used, the ration of aggregates used is 7 to 10 times higher. Of this, 50 percent is sand. For e.g., if the requirement of sand is 15,000 million tons, manufactured sand constitutes 50 percent.

Manufactured sand consumption has picked up from 2008, and the uptake was faster because of a decline in the volume of supplied river sand. While river sand registered a negative CAGR (-2 percent), the manufactured sand is registering a CAGR of 35 percent for the past couple of years. Fine aggregate offers better benefit and value than the coarse aggregator.

What kind of investments or expansion plans are you witnessing in the m-sand segment?

Realizing the poetical of the segment, there is a steady flow of investments. The number of players in m-sand segment has increased which encourages healthy competition. Also, there are players who are looking at aggregators and m-sand as apart of portfolio diversification. Globally if you take the leading cement players, they are present in the cement, RMC and aggregator segments. The trend will soon follow in India.

You mentioned changing global trends in the usage of m-sand. Can you elaborate further?

Globally, Japan is the first country to develop technology in the engineered sand segment because of the shortage of river sand. In Asia, China took the first move in the same direction because of the shortfall faced. Now that India also has challenges with river sand, the country has adopted Japanese technology to manufacture m- sand in the country. The adoption of m-sand in Europe and US is comparatively lower as governments in these continents have not imposed restriction on river sand dredging.

Renjini Liza Varghese

Concrete

Cement Prices Likely to Rise Rs. 10-15 per Bag from Mid-October

Input costs and steady demand may drive cement price increases

Published

22 hours ago

October 14, 2026

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Cement manufacturers in India are likely to raise prices by Rs. 10-15 per bag from mid-October, as they seek to offset persistent increases in power and fuel costs. Emkay Research said its channel checks indicated a high probability of an increase from October 12, supported by the start of the busy construction season and favourable demand-supply conditions.

The sector had implemented similar rate adjustments of Rs. 10-15 per bag during the first quarter, but the increases were insufficient to cover higher operating costs. Prices also softened during July and August because of the monsoon, widening the gap between realisations and input expenses. Delayed plant expansion programmes have pushed clinker utilisation rates towards 79 per cent by FY28, helping to balance market fundamentals.

Emkay Research said steady volume offtake was supporting cement consumption, with non-trade demand driving activity across regional markets. Industry volumes are expected to grow by 7-8 per cent year on year during the first half of FY27, while demand momentum is projected to remain firm over the following 18 months. The outlook includes the busy construction season in the second half of FY27 and infrastructure activity linked to general elections in the first half of calendar year 2029.

The brokerage expects overall cement demand to record a compound annual growth rate of about 7 per cent between FY26 and FY28. However, elevated operating expenses are likely to continue weighing on profitability. Input costs have risen by Rs. 300-400 per t over the past six to seven months, with the full impact expected to become visible in second-quarter earnings and remain persistent through the second half of FY27.

Spot prices for petcoke and imported coal are approximately 20 per cent and 16 per cent above their second-quarter averages, at USD 175 per t and USD 150 per t, respectively. Packing costs have also increased, with polypropylene granule prices rising above Rs. 135 per kg. Emkay Research estimated that second-quarter earnings could decline by Rs. 200-250 per t sequentially because of higher fuel bills and negative operating leverage, and said the sector requires sustained price increases of about Rs. 10 per bag to offset cost inflation.

Concrete

Nuvoco Marks 10 Years, Targets 35 MMTPA Capacity by FY28

Nuvoco celebrates a decade of growth, targeting 35 MMTPA cement capacity by FY28.

Published

2 days ago

October 13, 2026

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Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited is celebrating a decade of operations under the theme ‘Dus Saal Bemisaal’, highlighting its expansion in India’s building materials sector. The company has grown from a single cement manufacturing facility into a diversified organisation operating across cement, ready-mix concrete (RMC) and modern building materials.

The company’s journey began in 2014 when its parent, Nirma Group, commissioned a 2 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) greenfield cement plant at Nimbol, Rajasthan. A major milestone followed in October 2016 with the acquisition of Lafarge India, significantly expanding its manufacturing footprint.

Nuvoco strengthened its market presence through the acquisition of Emami Cement, now NU Vista Limited, in 2020, followed by its public listing in 2021. In April 2025, the company added Vadraj Cement to its portfolio, strengthening its presence in western India.

Nuvoco has an operating cement capacity of 27 MMTPA and 14 manufacturing units, including the Kutch and Sachana facilities in Gujarat, which are in advanced stages of completion. It also operates 58 ready-mix concrete plants across India and offers a range of modern building materials.

The company aims to increase its cement capacity to 35 MMTPA by FY2027-28, representing approximately 15-fold growth over the decade.

Reflecting on the milestone, Hiren Patel, Chairman, Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited, said, “From our beginnings at Nimbol to the organisation we are today, every milestone has added a new chapter to Nuvoco’s journey and strengthened our belief in building for the long term.”

The company continues to focus on capacity expansion, operational efficiency, innovation and sustainability while strengthening its position in India’s construction materials market.

Concrete

J&K Government Notifies City Gas Distribution Policy

Policy targets PNG and CNG expansion across all 20 districts

Published

2 days ago

October 13, 2026

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Jammu and Kashmir government has notified the City Gas Distribution (CGD) Policy, 2026, following its approval by the Council of Ministers headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The policy sets out a phased framework for expanding Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) access for households, businesses, industries and the transport sector across the Union Territory.

CGD networks will be expanded in phases across all 20 districts, with the aim of bringing reliable natural gas closer to consumers and supporting a gradual shift from conventional fuels. The government said the policy is designed to improve energy access while creating an investor-friendly and time-bound environment for gas distribution projects.

The policy provides for single-window and time-bound clearances, streamlined procedures for setting up CNG stations and standardised norms for the Right of Way. These measures are intended to reduce procedural delays, simplify project implementation and facilitate investment in natural gas infrastructure.

It also prioritises gas connectivity for major industrial estates, including those in Kathua, Samba and Pulwama. Improved access to natural gas is expected to support industrial activity, enhance energy efficiency and help businesses manage fuel costs, while strengthening their competitiveness and encouraging investment in the clean-energy sector.

The policy is also expected to create opportunities for local employment, apprenticeships and skill development in the construction, operation and maintenance of gas distribution networks and related services. Abdullah described the measure as an important step towards cleaner growth, sustainable development and a modern energy ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it would expand reliable energy access and support industry and investment.