Economy & Market

Protection, Promotion & Projection

Published

3 years ago

January 13, 2022

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South Indian Cement Manufacturers’ Association (SICMA) President N Srinivasan has sought the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s intervention to impose higher duty on the import of clinker and cement into India to match neighbouring countries that have slapped anti-dumping duties on import of cement from India into their countries.

Highlighting the mismatch in capacity between the South and the North of India, SICMA stated that South — with 180 million tonnes per annum (MPTA) capacity — accounts for almost 40 per cent of India’s cement production. Other parts of the country will face a deficit in cement production

in a few years’ time. Some regions already are — north-east India is often short of cement. SICMA also sought the government to facilitate movement of cement by providing either telescopic railway freight or some other method.

“GST alone fetches about `30,000 crore annually from the Indian cement industry, the second largest in the world after China,” asserted SICMA in its representation.

As the first half year was facing the brunt of the high input costs, there has been evidence of a silver lining as the year ended. There has been a decline in imported coal and pet coke prices in the last two months. South African coal prices have fallen to $130-140/tonne from its peak of $220- 230/tonne; pet coke prices down to $140-150 per tonne (from its peak $220/ tonne). Average fuel cost for the industry should increase by `100-150/tonne in the October-December period as per rating agencies.

On 17th December the industry doyens came together as part of the 5th Indian Cement Review Awards and top of their agenda was – Decarbonisation of cement.

India’s commitment to net zero cannot be realised without the contribution of the cement sector. At the 7th Indian Cement Review Conference, the best minds from the industry voiced their opinions and ideas on decarbonisation. Companies cited several initiatives including the use of electric vehicles for cement, clinker and other input output logistics.

At the 5th Indian Cement Review Awards 2021, our guest of honour, Anil Agarwal, Additional Secretary, Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, was impressed by growth that the industry had managed despite trying conditions. However, he urged the industry to innovate and build value for their shareholders.

Housing sales have been up by 71% over previous year buy are yet lower than prepandemic

levels. Road construction has been lagging behind. “The government has set a target of 12,000 km (for) the current financial year against which 5,118 km which has been constructed as on November 30, 2021,” road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha last month. The government has lowered the target for the year to 33 km/day from 40 km/day set earlier. The original target was to build 14,600 km highways in 2021-22, up from 13,327 km constructed in 2020-21.

Construction fell to its lowest in four years to 21.3 km per day during the April-November period of the current fiscal year, compared with an average of 25.8 km/day in the same period last fiscal. It was 24 km/day in the comparable period of FY19 and 24.8 in the same period in FY20, both pre-pandemic periods.

The new Omicron wave is likely to slow down the momentum albeit temporarily as it is seen a s less severe. The Union Budget must step up infrastructure spending by working towards credible and realisable plans for fund raises.

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The 5th Indian Cement Review Awards 2021

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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

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Email: Sujoy.g@ASAPPinfoGlobal.com

FOR SPONSORSHIPS

Ratan Rajbhar

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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.