Concrete

Constantly increasing prices of building materials are a major challenge

Published

3 years ago

January 16, 2023

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Shraddha Kedia-Agarwal, Director, Transcon Developers, brings in the perspective of developers as they tackle the issue of rising cement costs and the overall impact on consumer behaviour.

How has the rise in cement and building materials cost impacted your business?
The rise in cement and other building material costs have had a major impact on our business. Construction costs have risen significantly as budgets have remained fixed, resulting in a decrease in profitability. The prolonged delivery of materials has also caused a delay in projects and a requirement for increased cash flow during the construction phase.
As of March 2022, construction costs had gone up by 10 to 12 per cent year-on-year due to a 20 per cent spike in key material costs such as cement, steel, aluminium, copper and fuel. This was further exacerbated by geopolitical issues and inflation leading to increased labour costs. Developers are particularly challenged, as they have to deal with high levels of debt and liquidity constraints.

As the costs are expected to remain volatile for a few more months, is there any change in your strategy or approach towards the launch of new projects?
Though we are actively monitoring market conditions, we are not planning any change to our approach on launching new projects. However, we are increasing construction budgets and focusing more on external amenities in order to provide more value to buyers. This may result in increased costs, but the extra benefits provided should outweigh this cost.

Tell us about the impact on timely delivery of developer projects.
The constantly increasing prices of building materials are a major challenge for the construction industry, as they can lead to delays in project completion and reduced quality of work. Fluctuations in the market value for these materials present a significant risk for all stakeholders involved, such as suppliers, contractors, and clients.
There is an increased lead time for materials, and suppliers are hesitant to accept orders due to the uncertainty of the market. This means that material contractors are further apprehensive about accepting offers or quotation requests. As a result, developers may need to adjust their plans in order to ensure timely completion of projects.

How has the consumer behaviour changed with change in property costs? Do you expect the demand to decrease?
The changing property costs have certainly affected consumer behaviour. As prices increase, consumers may be more hesitant to purchase and less likely to spend beyond their budgets.
The real estate industry has been adapting to the pandemic since its onset, and the second wave of infections had further compounded their challenges. In particular, there has been a steep rise in the cost of key raw materials such as steel, cement, solid blocks, nails, binding wires, and plywood. This increase has been as much as 100 per cent in some cases compared to last year, severely limiting the developers› ability to offer discounts to their customers.
The decrease in demand may drive developers to offer more amenities or better value proposition in order to remain competitive in the market.

What is the major challenge that you have come across with the rising costs and how are you combating the same?
One major challenge with rising costs is that companies must make the right decisions on how to optimise their manufacturing processes, implement cost-saving measures and negotiate supplier terms in order to reduce their input costs without sacrificing quality. This is why selective manufacturing and value engineering are important, as they allow companies to reduce costs while still achieving their desired output. Additionally, fast/advance payments can help companies meet their vendors› needs while also helping them reduce their overall expenses. Finally, a focus on material consumption can provide companies with an opportunity to decrease their costs by reducing their materials used and exploring cheaper alternatives.

How do you envision the future of real estate development and consumer behaviour with the rising cost of cement and other construction materials?
In the future, the rising cost of cement and other construction materials will likely lead to real estate developers exploring alternative recycled materials. Additionally, consumer behaviour will likely shift towards more energy-efficient and environment-friendly construction methods, as well as green design initiatives like zero-waste construction and biophilic design. Real estate developers will also have to look for ways to reduce their material consumption, such as through the implementation of prefabricated structures, the use of intelligent building technologies and the development of holistic sustainability strategies.

-Kanika Mathur

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Concrete

Nuvoco Q3 EBITDA Jumps As Cement Sales Hit Record

Premium products and cost control lift profitability

Published

19 hours ago

January 19, 2026

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Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd reported a strong financial performance for the quarter ended 31 December 2025 (Q3 FY26), driven by record cement sales, higher premium product volumes and improved operational efficiencies.

The company achieved its highest-ever third-quarter consolidated cement sales volume of 5 million tonnes, registering growth of 7 per cent year-on-year. Consolidated revenue from operations rose 12 per cent to Rs 27.01 billion during the quarter. EBITDA increased sharply by 50 per cent YoY to Rs 3.86 billion, supported by improved pricing and cost management.

Premium products continued to be a key growth driver, sustaining a historic high contribution of 44 per cent for the second consecutive quarter. The strong momentum reflects rising brand traction for the Nuvoco Concreto and Nuvoco Duraguard ranges, which are increasingly recognised as trusted choices in building materials.

In the ready-mix concrete segment, Nuvoco witnessed healthy demand traction across its Concreto product portfolio. The company launched Concreto Tri Shield, a specialised offering delivering three-layer durability and a 50 per cent increase in structural lifespan. In the modern building materials category, the firm introduced Nuvoco Zero M Unnati App, a digital loyalty platform aimed at improving influencer engagement, transparency and channel growth.

Despite heavy rainfall affecting parts of the quarter, the company maintained improved performance supported by strong premiumisation and operational discipline. Capacity expansion projects in the East, along with ongoing execution at the Vadraj Cement facilities, remain on track. The operationalisation of the clinker unit and grinding capacity, planned in phases starting Q3 FY27, is expected to lift total cement capacity to around 35 million tonnes per annum, reinforcing Nuvoco’s position as India’s fifth-largest cement group.

Commenting on the results, Managing Director Mr Jayakumar Krishnaswamy said Q3 marked strong recovery and momentum despite economic challenges. He highlighted double-digit volume growth, premium-led expansion and a 50 per cent rise in EBITDA. The company also recorded its lowest blended fuel cost in 17 quarters at Rs 1.41 per Mcal. Refurbishment and project execution at the Vadraj Cement Plant are progressing steadily, which, along with strategic capacity additions and cost efficiencies, is expected to strengthen Nuvoco’s long-term competitive advantage.

Concrete

Cement Industry Backs Co-Processing to Tackle Global Waste

Industry bodies recently urged policy support for cement co-processing as waste solution

Published

5 days ago

January 15, 2026

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Leading industry bodies, including the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), European Composites Industry Association, International Solid Waste Association – Africa, Mission Possible Partnership and the Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council, have issued a joint statement highlighting the cement industry’s potential role in addressing the growing global challenge of non-recyclable and non-reusable waste. The organisations have called for stronger policy support to unlock the full potential of cement industry co-processing as a safe, effective and sustainable waste management solution.

Co-processing enables both energy recovery and material recycling by using suitable waste to replace fossil fuels in cement kilns, while simultaneously recycling residual ash into the cement itself. This integrated approach delivers a zero-waste solution, reduces landfill dependence and complements conventional recycling by addressing waste streams that cannot be recycled or are contaminated.

Already recognised across regions including Europe, India, Latin America and North America, co-processing operates under strict regulatory and technical frameworks to ensure high standards of safety, emissions control and transparency.

Commenting on the initiative, Thomas Guillot, Chief Executive of the GCCA, said co-processing offers a circular, community-friendly waste solution but requires effective regulatory frameworks and supportive public policy to scale further. He noted that while some cement kilns already substitute over 90 per cent of their fuel with waste, many regions still lack established practices.

The joint statement urges governments and institutions to formally recognise co-processing within waste policy frameworks, support waste collection and pre-treatment, streamline permitting, count recycled material towards national recycling targets, and provide fiscal incentives that reflect environmental benefits. It also calls for stronger public–private partnerships and international knowledge sharing.

With global waste generation estimated at over 11 billion tonnes annually and uncontrolled municipal waste projected to rise sharply by 2050, the signatories believe co-processing represents a practical and scalable response. With appropriate policy backing, it can help divert waste from landfills, reduce fossil fuel use in cement manufacturing and transform waste into a valuable societal resource.

Concrete

Industry Bodies Call for Wider Use of Cement Co-Processing

Joint statement seeks policy support for sustainable waste management

Published

6 days ago

January 14, 2026

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Leading industry organisations have called for stronger policy support to accelerate the adoption of cement industry co-processing as a sustainable solution for managing non-recyclable and non-reusable waste. In a joint statement, bodies including the Global Cement and Concrete Association, European Composites Industry Association, International Solid Waste Association – Africa, Mission Possible Partnership and the Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council highlighted the role co-processing can play in addressing the growing global waste challenge.

Co-processing enables the use of waste as an alternative to fossil fuels in cement kilns, while residual ash is incorporated into cementitious materials, resulting in a zero-waste process. The approach supports both energy recovery and material recycling, complements conventional recycling systems and reduces reliance on landfill infrastructure. It is primarily applied to waste streams that are contaminated or unsuitable for recycling.

The organisations noted that co-processing is already recognised in regions such as Europe, India, Latin America and North America, operating under regulated frameworks to ensure safety, emissions control and transparency. However, adoption remains uneven globally, with some plants achieving over 90 per cent fuel substitution while others lack enabling policies.

The statement urged governments and institutions to formally recognise co-processing in waste management frameworks, streamline environmental permitting, incentivise waste collection and pre-treatment, account for recycled material content in national targets, and support public-private partnerships. The call comes amid rising global waste volumes, which are estimated at over 11 billion tonnes annually, with unmanaged waste contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and health risks.