Concrete

Future of cement distribution is exciting and challenging

Published

4 years ago

March 1, 2022

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Syaam Prakash V, Vice President – Marketing, NCL Industries, speaks about their preferred distribution channels and the impact that technology is likely to have on the processes in the near future.

How many channels of distribution do you prefer to have for your product and how do you choose them?
Our channels for distribution of cement can be broadly classified into six types, selection of which is based on the channel’s reach, efficiency and cost optimisation and is finally driven by
consumer’s preference.

Which is your most preferred channel of distribution and why?
Our most preferred channel of distribution is through dealer to consumer. This channel has been our mainstay for several years and constitutes 80 per cent of our dealer network of over 2200. It gives us immense reach into rural Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Now the company is focused to develop channel wholesaler – retailer to consumer. This is predominantly in urban markets where the company is focused to increase its presence. 75 per cent of our business is from channel sales, hence, we continue to strengthen it by adding close to 250 dealers a year across south India.

How do you select your distributors? Tell us about the parameters and selection process.
The following are the parameters to evaluate distributors selection:
» Retail network size, store locations and retail store space
» Synergy to existing network, niche clientele base
» Financial strength and potential to grow. Scope to add other products of NCL (cement article board, NCL doors etc) and group company products (AAC blocks, wall putty, paints,
UPVC etc)
» Current cement dealerships and their positioning vis-à-vis Nagarjuna Cement.

What are the major challenges in the line of distribution of cement?
The major challenges that we have faced in our distribution channels are:
» Timely, cost effective and seamless reach to consumers
» Continued channel partners loyalty
» Penetration, reach and depth in retail space
» Efficient last mile connectivity and service to consumers

What are the software and other IT solutions used to understand the cement distribution?
Currently we are not using any software specifically for cement distribution. We are evaluating
several options.

How is the acceptance of online sales of cement?
India has the third largest online shopper base of 140 million subscribers contributing to US $ 50 billion in turnover 2020. The segment is growing 35 per cent annually and the Indian digital economy is estimated at US $537 billion. However, the major share of which is from groceries, educational technology and personal care, beauty and wellness (PCB&W) segment etc. The online sales of cement is growing gradually in India as most of the customers still prefer to shop at brick and mortar stores.

Who are the major buyers of cement online?
Thus far, major buyers of cement online in India are Individual House Builders (IHB) and institutional buyers.
As we can see, bulk of cement is bought by central and state governments for low-cost housing, infrastructure etc. Urban housing (builders) and industrial buyers are yet to take up online buying in a big way and the space is still evolving as the same involves credit and contract buying.
Hence, purchase of cement online will increase in the years to come as penetration of smartphones and 5G network improves in rural markets.

How do you foresee the future of cement distribution?
Cement distribution has been evolving over the last few decades. We are graduating from being commodity (cement) sales to product marketing in the cement space. Further, due to various new applications (RMC, cement sheets, cement particle boards, AAC blocks, prefabricated structures, 3D printing, white top highway roads etc.) cement is moving into bulk sales (naked cement).
There are a lot of green initiatives in cement production and applications. New products are being developed and promoted for the benefit of individual as well as industrial customers.
India is second largest producer of cement in the world with 550 MMT per annum installed capacity and consumption is estimated to grow at 9 per cent CAGR in next few years (current per capita cement consumption is 250 kg against world average of 550 kg) hence the future of cement distribution is exciting and challenging.

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Concrete

UltraTech Cement FY26 PAT Crosses Rs 80 bn

Company reports record sales, profit and 200 MTPA capacity milestone

Published

14 hours ago

April 29, 2026

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UltraTech Cement reported record financial performance for Q4 and FY26, supported by strong volumes, higher profitability and improved cost efficiency. Consolidated net sales for Q4 FY26 rose 12 per cent year-on-year to Rs 254.67 billion, while PBIDT increased 20 per cent to Rs 56.88 billion. PAT, excluding exceptional items, grew 21 per cent to Rs 30.11 billion.

For FY26, consolidated net sales stood at Rs 873.84 billion, up 17 per cent from Rs 749.36 billion in FY25. PBIDT rose 32 per cent to Rs 175.98 billion, while PAT increased 36 per cent to Rs 83.05 billion, crossing the Rs 80 billion mark for the first time.

India grey cement volumes reached 42.41 million tonnes in Q4 FY26, up 9.3 per cent year-on-year, with capacity utilisation at 89 per cent. Full-year India grey cement volumes stood at 145 million tonnes. Energy costs declined 3 per cent, aided by a higher green power mix of 43 per cent in Q4.

The company’s domestic grey cement capacity has crossed 200 MTPA, reaching 200.1 MTPA, while global capacity stands at 205.5 MTPA. UltraTech also recommended a special dividend of Rs 2.40 billion per share value basis equivalent to Rs 240.

Concrete

Towards Mega Batching

Optimised batching can drive overall efficiencies in large projects.

Published

2 days ago

April 28, 2026

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India’s pace of infrastructure development is pushing the construction sector to work at a significantly higher scale than previously. Tight deadlines necessitate eliminating concreting delays, especially in large and mega projects, which, in turn, imply installing the right batching plant and ensuring batching is efficient. CW explores these steps as well as the gaps in India’s batching plant market.

Choose well

Large-scale infrastructure and building projects typically involve concrete consumption exceeding 30,000-50,000 cum per annum or demand continuous, high-volume pours within compressed timelines, according to Rahul R Wadhai, DGM – Quality, Tata Projects.

Considering the daily need for concrete, “large-scale concreting involves pouring more than 1,000–2,000 cum per day while mega projects involve more than 3,000 cum per day,” says Satish R Vachhani, Advanced Concrete & Construction Consultant…

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Concrete

Andhra Offers Discom Licences To Private Firms Outside Power Sector

Policy allows firms over 300 MW to seek distribution licences

Published

3 days ago

April 27, 2026

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The Andhra Pradesh government will allow private firms that require more than 300 megawatt (MW) of power to apply for distribution licences, making the state the first to extend such licences beyond the power sector. The policy targets information technology, pharmaceuticals, steel and data centres and aims to reduce reliance on state utilities as demand rises for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Approved applicants will be able to procure electricity directly from generators through power purchase agreements, a change officials said will create more competitive tariffs and reduce supply risk. Licence holders will use the Andhra Pradesh Transmission Company (APTRANSCO) network on payment of charges and will not need a separate distribution network initially.

Licences will be granted under the Electricity Act, 2003 framework, with the Central and State electricity regulators retaining authority over terms and approvals. The recent Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 sought to lower entry barriers, enable network sharing and encourage competition, while the state commission will set floor and ceiling tariffs where multiple discoms operate.

Industry players and original equipment manufacturers welcomed the policy, saying competitive supply is vital for large data centre investments. Major projects and partnerships such as those involving Adani and Google, Brookfield and Reliance, and Meta and Sify Technologies are expected to benefit as capacity expands in the state.

Analysts noted India’s data centre capacity is forecast to reach 10 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and cited International Energy Agency estimates that global data centre electricity consumption could approach 945 terawatt hours by the same year. A one GW data centre needs an equivalent power allocation and one point five times the water, which authorities equated to 150 billion litres (150 bn litres).

Advisers warned that distribution licences will require close regulation and monitoring to prevent misuse and to ensure tariffs and supply obligations are met. Officials said the policy aims to balance investor requirements with regulatory oversight and could serve as a model for other states.