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Cement price rise has impacted our profitability

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Ketan Patel, Director, Akshar Group, speaks about striking a balance between losses incurred and foreseeable profits, even as the real estate sector battles with rising prices of cement and other raw materials.

How is the current real estate market and how are your projects performing?
The market has opened up. We are expecting a good demand in real estate and are looking for it to lower down in the next two-three years. When we look at the statistics of the buyer, registrations, launches etc., of a quarter, if we try to neutralise the cement, then it comes across as more area- and demand-centric. In metro cities like Mumbai or Bangalore, real estate has to do well because of the demand
for it. More than demand, it is also about migration and work opportunities. As a result an entire ecosystem develops around it, which leads to demand and purchase.
I believe that we are building an asset, but then it comes down to what price point you have entered at, what specifications you are offering, if the zone has the typology requirement – all factors need to be kept in mind to understand the price and demand of that location. Sometimes, a single development from a particular brand and what they are offering changes the demand in a zone. Price, at the end of the day, is a prime factor and this market is centred around it.

Has the cost rise in cement and concrete building materials impacted your profitability?
Yes. Cement price rise has impacted our profitability, making it lower and, in some cases, it has led us to incur some losses, too. For the ongoing projects, where about 60 per cent to 80 per cent of the units are sold, we cannot now go to the buyer and tell them that the cost of raw materials has gone up and the remaining units, of which the construction was pending will be at a higher price. So, that is where we are incurring a low profit or loss per say.
I believe the cost of raw material has impacted on-going projects but for the new projects we are prepared that now the prices have gone up so we must have a 20 to 25 per cent buffer for that.

Are you expecting a change in consumer behaviour as the price of real estate will go up owing to the rise in the cost of raw materials?
Whenever we increase the price of our projects, we see a setback of 10 to 15 per cent in the overall sales funnel. But when we do look at it, the actual sales in the total sales funnel is approximately 10 per cent of the total enquiries. What we have observed over the years is that the number of enquiries go down when there is an increase in price. However, the customer who is looking to buy a house or property or upgrade does come through and convert as a customer.
We saw a trend through the pandemic that people have realised that housing is a very important aspect in their lives, as it was their homes that kept them safe in the difficult times. Demand in established locations has gone up as people want to upgrade.

As the raw material cost for construction is expected to stay volatile in the near future, what is the change in strategy adapted by you to navigate through it or will there be delays in delivery of projects?
We are looking at changing our strategies but we cannot delay any of our projects as that is more expensive than incurring higher prices of raw material for building materials. Waiting for the cost of raw materials to go down will throw us off our schedule and that will be a bigger chaos as the entire line of work will be disturbed. I might end up spending more than I would be saving with the wait duration.
However, with new launches, we can keep control and plan better. But once the project is on the floor, we have to go with the flow and match our deadlines, irrespective of the change in prices of the construction materials.

Tell us about the challenges you have faced with the rise in cost of cement.
We were not expecting the price of raw material to rise so much. We do account for 4 to 5 per cent of inflated prices but when it goes up to 15 to 20 per cent we have had to relook at our strategies. We cannot compromise on the deliveries to our customers, but at the same time we also have to understand how to absorb the cost.
Considerations had to be made if the project price should increase. But that too comes with its own set of challenges with the market price, competitor pricing of projects etc. Those were also the deciding factors on incurring some losses and not being able to transfer the cost to the consumer. However, that will also be averaged out in our future projects.

How is the future of real estate looking with the rise in cost of cement and building materials?
With the rise in cement cost and other building material costs, the same will eventually be carried forward to the buyer. This is a basic entrepreneurial rule. New launches will be expensive. In their initial stages, they may be at a 10 to 20 per cent lower cost, but I am foreseeing a rise in real estate price of about 18 to 20 per cent in the near future.
Materials like steel, cement and concrete are very important in any building. With the price of these materials rising, I have incurred losses in the previous projects, and we will be looking to recover the same in newer projects. This will become a market sentiment as similar challenges will be faced by the developer community.

-Kanika Mathur

Concrete

India Sets Up First Carbon Capture Testbeds for Cement Industry

Five CCU testbeds launched to decarbonise cement production

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The Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently unveiled a pioneering national initiative: five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds in the cement sector, forming a first-of-its-kind research and innovation cluster to combat industrial carbon emissions.
This is a significant step towards India’s Climate Action for fostering National Determined Contributions (NDCs) targets and to achieve net zero decarbonisation pathways for Industry Transition., towards the Government’s goal to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2070.
Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) holds significant importance in hard-to-abate sectors like Cement, Steel, Power, Oil &Natural Gas, Chemicals & Fertilizers in reducing emissions by capturing carbon dioxide from industrial processes and converting it to value add products such as synthetic fuels, Urea, Soda, Ash, chemicals, food grade CO2 or concrete aggregates. CCU provides a feasible pathway for these tough to decarbonise industries to lower their carbon footprint and move towards achieving Net Zero Goals while continuing their operations efficiently. DST has taken major strides in fostering R&D in the CCUS domain.
Concrete is vital for India’s economy and the Cement industry being one of the main hard-to-abate sectors, is committed to align with the national decarbonisation commitments. New technologies to decarbonise emission intensity of the cement sector would play a key role in achieving of national net zero targets.
Recognizing the critical need for decarbonising the Cement sector, the Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST) Division of Department launched a unique call for mobilising Academia-Industry Consortia proposals for deployment of Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) in Cement Sector. This Special call envisaged to develop and deploy innovative CCU Test bed in Cement Sector with thrust on Developing CO2 capture + CO2 Utilisation integrated unit in an Industrial set up through an innovative Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding model.
As a unique initiative and one of its first kind in India, DST has approved setting up of five CCU testbeds for translational R&D, to be set up in Academia-Industry collaboration under this significant initiative of DST in PPP mode, engaging with premier research laboratories as knowledge partners and top Cement companies as the industry partner.
On the occasion of National Technology Day celebrations, on May 11, 2025 the 5 CCU Cement Test beds were announced and grants had been handed over to the Test bed teams by the Chief Guest, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh in the presence of Secretary DST Prof. Abhay Karandikar.
The five testbeds are not just academic experiments — they are collaborative industrial pilot projects bringing together India’s top research institutions and leading cement manufacturers under a unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Each testbed addresses a different facet of CCU, from cutting-edge catalysis to vacuum-based gas separation.
The outcomes of this innovative initiative will not only showcase the pathways of decarbonisation towards Net zero goals through CCU route in cement sector, but should also be a critical confidence building measure for potential stakeholders to uptake the deployed CCU technology for further scale up and commercialisation.
It is envisioned that through continuous research and innovation under these test beds in developing innovative catalysts, materials, electrolyser technology, reactors, and electronics, the cost of Green Cement via the deployed CCU technology in Cement Sector may considerably be made more sustainable.
Secretary DBT Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Dr Ajai Choudhary, Co-Founder HCL, Dr. Rajesh Pathak, Secretary, TDB, Dr Anita Gupta Head CEST, DST and Dr Neelima Alam, Associate Head, DST were also present at the programme organized at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

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Concrete

JK Lakshmi Adopts EVs to Cut Emissions in Logistics

Electric vehicles deployed between JK Puram and Kalol units

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JK Lakshmi Cement, a key player in the Indian cement industry, has announced the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in its logistics operations. This move, made in partnership with SwitchLabs Automobiles, will see EVs transporting goods between the JK Puram Plant in Sirohi, Rajasthan, and the Kalol Grinding Unit in Gujarat.
The announcement follows a successful pilot project that showcased measurable reductions in carbon emissions while maintaining efficiency. Building on this, the company is scaling up EV integration to enhance sustainability across its supply chain.
“Sustainability is integral to our vision at JK Lakshmi Cement. Our collaboration with SwitchLabs Automobiles reflects our continued focus on driving innovation in our logistics operations while taking responsibility for our environmental footprint. This initiative positions us as a leader in transforming the cement sector’s logistics landscape,” said Arun Shukla, President & Director, JK Lakshmi Cement.
This deployment marks a significant step in aligning with India’s push for greener transport infrastructure. By embracing clean mobility, JK Lakshmi Cement is setting an example for the industry, demonstrating that environmental responsibility can go hand in hand with operational efficiency.
The company continues to embed sustainability into its operations as part of a broader goal to reduce its carbon footprint. This initiative adds to its vision of building a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.
JK Lakshmi Cement, part of the 135-year-old JK Organisation, began operations in 1982 and has grown to become a recognised name in Indian cement. With a presence across Northern, Western, and Eastern India, the company has a cement capacity of 16.5 MTPA, with a target to reach 30 MT by 2030. Its product range includes ready-mix concrete, gypsum plaster, wall putty, and autoclaved aerated fly ash blocks.

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Holcim UK drives sustainable construction

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Holcim UK has released a report titled ‘Making Sustainable Construction a Reality,’ outlining its five-fold commitment to a greener future. The company aims to focus on decarbonisation, circular economy principles, smarter building methods, community engagement, and integrating nature. Based on a survey of 2,000 people, only 41 per cent felt urban spaces in the UK are sustainably built. A significant majority (82 per cent) advocated for more green spaces, 69 per cent called for government leadership in sustainability, and 54 per cent saw businesses as key players. Additionally, 80 per cent of respondents stressed the need for greater transparency from companies regarding their environmental practices.

Image source:holcim

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