Concrete

Distribution Channels for the Cement Industry

Published

4 years ago

February 28, 2022

admin

With changing times and demands, cement companies may create a system to sell to their end consumers directly using the Internet thereby relying more on technology than traditional formats.

Logistics for cement begins from the source where limestone, the raw material is procured from mining sites and brought to the plant. Logistics ends with the finished product leaving the manufacturing facility and ultimately reaching the consumer. For this, it travels across the lengths and breadths of the country. The demand for cement by every organisation must be met on time, or they lose the opportunity to their market competitors. The mode of transport for cement decides its cost and generally holds up to 20 per cent of its retail price. The cement industry today uses multiple modes of transports to fulfil its logistical needs.

Largely there are three key elements of distribution channels – wholesalers, retailers and end consumers. Cement organisations sell their end product to the consumers through wholesalers or retailers.

Factors affecting cement distribution

Logistics cost is one of the key differentiators amongst the prices that any cement manufacturing company quotes. Intense competition drives them to find innovative methods to lower these costs and thus, stay market leaders.

The process of bagging & de-bagging of cement for movement between the manufacturing unit to distributors is one of the contributors to the logistics cost. This can be reduced by carrying cement in bulk, rather than in bags. However, sometimes when adequate storage facilities are not arranged for, this bagging and de-bagging process becomes necessary which results in increased logistics cost. Other factors that influence cement distribution would be market demand, seasonal surges, government policies, political lobbies, connectivity, infrastructure, technology, country geography, history and culture.

Cement distribution solutions

Many cement manufacturers have created applications that can be downloaded to place order for cement or get to know the availability of their preferred brand at the nearest distributor or retailer. A new concept of cement marketplace has also been in the being for some years now. It is online shopping of cement where small and large quantities of cement can be purchased online. These eCommerce platforms are gaining popularity by the day.

Selection of distribution channels

Any cement business must look at benchmarking against the best practices adopted by their competitors and adopt a similar model to achieve larger markets and cost efficient channels. Cost efficiency can be determined by analysing production and delivery cost of cement at all stages. The best cost-benefit ratio helps come to this decision.

While selecting a distribution channel, an organisation must look into the demand, its projection and lead time to fulfil that demand. Along with this also comes the market potential which may differ through geographies and depend on the reputation of the brand in the marketplace.

Click here to read more

Concrete

Nuvoco Vistas Reports Record Q2 EBITDA, Expands Capacity to 35 MTPA

Cement Major Nuvoco Posts Rs 3.71 bn EBITDA in Q2 FY26

Published

2 weeks ago

October 22, 2025

admin

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd., one of India’s leading building materials companies, has reported its highest-ever second-quarter consolidated EBITDA of Rs 3.71 billion for Q2 FY26, reflecting an 8% year-on-year revenue growth to Rs 24.58 billion. Cement sales volume stood at 4.3 MMT during the quarter, driven by robust demand and a rising share of premium products, which reached an all-time high of 44%.

The company continued its deleveraging journey, reducing like-to-like net debt by Rs 10.09 billion year-on-year to Rs 34.92 billion. Commenting on the performance, Jayakumar Krishnaswamy, Managing Director, said, “Despite macro headwinds, disciplined execution and focus on premiumisation helped us achieve record performance. We remain confident in our structural growth trajectory.”

Nuvoco’s capacity expansion plans remain on track, with refurbishment of the Vadraj Cement facility progressing towards operationalisation by Q3 FY27. In addition, the company’s 4 MTPA phased expansion in eastern India, expected between December 2025 and March 2027, will raise its total cement capacity to 35 MTPA by FY27.

Reinforcing its sustainability credentials, Nuvoco continues to lead the sector with one of the lowest carbon emission intensities at 453.8 kg CO? per tonne of cementitious material.

Concrete

Jindal Stainless to Invest $150 Mn in Odisha Metal Recovery Plant

New Jajpur facility to double metal recovery capacity and cut emissions

Published

2 weeks ago

October 17, 2025

admin

Jindal Stainless Limited has announced an investment of $150 million to build and operate a new wet milling plant in Jajpur, Odisha, aimed at doubling its capacity to recover metal from industrial waste. The project is being developed in partnership with Harsco Environmental under a 15-year agreement.

The facility will enable the recovery of valuable metals from slag and other waste materials, significantly improving resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact. The initiative aligns with Jindal Stainless’s sustainability roadmap, which focuses on circular economy practices and low-carbon operations.

In financial year 2025, the company reduced its carbon footprint by about 14 per cent through key decarbonisation initiatives, including commissioning India’s first green hydrogen plant for stainless steel production and setting up the country’s largest captive solar energy plant within a single industrial campus in Odisha.

Shares of Jindal Stainless rose 1.8 per cent to Rs 789.4 per share following the announcement, extending a 5 per cent gain over the past month.

Concrete

Vedanta gets CCI Approval for Rs 17,000 MnJaiprakash buyout

Acquisition marks Vedanta’s expansion into cement, real estate, and infra

Published

2 weeks ago

October 17, 2025

admin

Vedanta Limited has received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to acquire Jaiprakash Associates Limited (JAL) for approximately Rs 17,000 million under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) process. The move marks Vedanta’s strategic expansion beyond its core mining and metals portfolio into cement, real estate, and infrastructure sectors.

Once the flagship of the Jaypee Group, JAL has faced severe financial distress with creditors’ claims exceeding Rs 59,000 million. Vedanta emerged as the preferred bidder in a competitive auction, outbidding the Adani Group with an overall offer of Rs 17,000 million, equivalent to Rs 12,505 million in net present value terms. The payment structure involves an upfront settlement of around Rs 3,800 million, followed by annual instalments of Rs 2,500–3,000 million over five years.

The National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL), which acquired the group’s stressed loans from a State Bank of India-led consortium, now leads the creditor committee. Lenders are expected to take a haircut of around 71 per cent based on Vedanta’s offer. Despite approvals for other bidders, Vedanta’s proposal stood out as the most viable resolution plan, paving the way for the company’s diversification into new business verticals.