Concrete

Cement manufacturers report margin decline in September quarter amid lower prices

The all-India average cement price saw a year-on-year decline of 11%

Published

6 months ago

November 8, 2024

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Cement manufacturers have reported a decline in margins during the September quarter, primarily due to lower prices, which led to reduced sales realization. Smaller companies such as Nuvoco Vistas Corp, JK Cement, Birla Corporation, and Heidelberg Cement experienced a drop in both topline and sales volume. However, leading players like UltraTech Cement, Ambuja Cement, and Dalmia Bharat performed better, primarily due to several recent acquisitions that have bolstered their market position.

The industry faced challenges, including an extended monsoon, floods, and slow government demand, all of which contributed to weak market conditions. Despite these challenges, power, fuel, and other operational costs remained stable.

In terms of pricing, the all-India average cement price saw a year-on-year decline of 11% from ₹348 per 50 kg bag in June 2024 to ₹330 per bag in September, although it rose by 2% month-on-month. In FY25, the average cement price saw a 10% year-on-year reduction, down from ₹365 per bag in FY24.

UltraTech Cement reported a 68% capacity utilization and a 3% growth in sales volume, despite an 8.4% year-on-year decline in sales realization for grey cement. Similarly, Ambuja Cements saw a 9% increase in sales volume, reaching 14.2 million tonnes, but its EBITDA was 15% lower year-on-year at ₹1,074 crore due to lower price realizations.

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Concrete

Holcim UK drives sustainable construction

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2025

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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.

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Concrete

Cemex invests in AI optimisation through OPTIMITIVE

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2025

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Cemex, through its corporate venture arm Cemex Ventures, has announced a strategic investment in OPTIMITIVE, a company specialising in AI-powered industrial process optimisation. OPTIMITIVE’s flagship products, Optibat RTO and Optibat Studio, enable real-time, closed-loop control of critical manufacturing operations, delivering notable improvements in energy efficiency and system productivity. This collaboration aims to embed artificial intelligence into Cemex’s global operations, supporting the company’s ‘Future in Action’ programme—its ambitious roadmap to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions. The integration of AI will allow Cemex to reduce energy consumption and emissions.

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Concrete

GCCA releases LCR system

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2025

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The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has launched the Low Carbon Ratings (LCR) system for cement and concrete, a new global rating based on products’ carbon footprints. The system uses a clear AA to G scale to help customers prioritise sustainability in material selection across construction sectors worldwide. The GCCA says that the LCR system is designed to be easily recognisable, with a simple visual graphic that indicates a product’s rating and provides consistency and comparability to other products.

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