Concrete

Cement Makers Set for ~250 bps Margin Boost on Strong Realisations

Stable costs and firmer realisations to lift profitability this fiscal.

Published

5 days ago

December 9, 2025

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Cement manufacturers are expected to record a 250–300 basis points (bps) expansion in operating margins this fiscal, supported by improved realisations driven by higher volumes, greater premiumisation and broadly stable input costs. Industry volume is projected to grow 6.5–7.5 per cent this fiscal, up from 5 per cent in the previous year. While the first half saw a moderate 5 per cent on-year rise—recovering from flat demand a year earlier—the second half is likely to strengthen with 8–9 per cent growth backed by pent-up demand and better liquidity.

Pan-India cement prices are expected to remain rangebound at Rs 354–359 per 50 kg bag, fluctuating within ±1 per cent. Although the reduction in GST from 28 to 18 per cent will exert downward pressure on retail prices, premiumisation and healthy demand are expected to offset the impact and support higher realisations. This trend is reflected in an assessment of 14 major manufacturers, representing nearly 85 per cent of industry revenues.

“The average pan-India cement prices saw a modest 3 per cent on-year increase in the first half. However, the full impact of GST changes will be felt in the third quarter, resulting in a 4–5% decline in retail prices in the second half. Despite subdued pricing, the industry is poised for higher realisations this fiscal, driven by healthy volume growth,” said Sehul Bhatt, Director, Crisil Intelligence.

Ex-GST prices are expected to rise 3–4 per cent on-year in the coming quarter, though overall prices may soften because of the tax revision. Realisations grew ~5 per cent in the first half and are likely to ease to 0–2 per cent growth in the second, translating to a full-year increase of 2.5–3.5 per cent.

Regionally, the east and south may see a 0–2 per cent uptick after sharp declines last fiscal, while other regions could witness a 2–3 per cent drop. On the cost front, power and freight—together forming 54–55 per cent of expenses—are expected to decline 2–3 per cent and 1–2 per cent this fiscal. Raw material costs may remain elevated due to higher limestone prices, but overall costs are expected to stabilise, lifting operating margins to 18–20 per cent from ~16 per cent last year.

“After a ~9 per cent fall last fiscal, Australian thermal coal prices are set to drop another 17–18 per cent this year amid higher supply and softer global demand. Brent crude is also projected to fall 17–18 per cent to $62–67 per barrel,” said Sachidanand Choubey, Associate Director, Crisil Intelligence. While petcoke has seen a mild uptick, easing coal, crude and steady diesel costs will continue to provide relief. Any unexpected spike in energy prices due to geopolitical or regulatory shifts, however, remains a key risk.

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Concrete

Niraj Cement JV Wins Railway and Metro Contracts

Two orders worth over Rs 1.64 billion boost infrastructure portfolio

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

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Niraj Cement Structurals (JV) has secured two major contracts from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NF Railway) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), strengthening its position in large-scale infrastructure development.

The first contract, valued at Rs 815.2 million, has been awarded by NF Railway. It involves the construction of multiple-span 12.20-metre PSC slab underpasses, a major bridge (No. 727), retaining and guide walls, embankments and one minor bridge along the proposed UP and Down line near Deepor Beel. The project covers Km 163/00 to 164/200 between Azara and Kamakhya stations and forms part of the New Bongaigaon–Goalpara Town–Kamakhya (NBQ–GLPT–KYQ) railway doubling programme.

The second contract, worth Rs 826.6 million, has been awarded by MMRDA for constructing a foot overbridge (FOB) equipped with a travellator to improve connectivity between the SGMC monorail station and the Mahalaxmi metro and suburban railway stations.

The two projects underscore the company’s technical capabilities in both transportation infrastructure and environmentally sensitive construction, further strengthening its portfolio in key railway and urban mobility developments.

Concrete

Peddapalli MP Seeks Clear Timelines for Rs 42.10 Bn Projects

Peddapalli MP Gaddam Vamshi Krishna has urged the Union Government to specify execution timelines for major infrastructure projects worth Rs 42.10 billion in his constituency.

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

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Peddapalli MP Gaddam Vamshi Krishna has called on the Centre to provide definitive timelines for a series of sanctioned infrastructure works that he said are essential for the region’s economic progress. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, he stressed that many approved projects remain stalled without clear implementation schedules, limiting their potential impact on connectivity and employment.

A key pending work is the Peddapalli–Manuguru Railway Line, a 137 km stretch linking Peddapalli with Manuguru in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. Although the line has received required approvals and special project status, the execution schedule has not yet been announced. The project is expected to support freight efficiency, improve coal logistics, and strengthen local job creation.

Extending his appeal beyond physical infrastructure, the MP urged the Centre to consider including Peddapalli in the India Semiconductor Mission, citing the district’s industrial ecosystem, skilled workforce, and readiness to support advanced manufacturing.

By pressing for structured timelines, Krishna emphasised the need for coordinated planning and timely execution to advance the constituency’s long-term development goals.

Concrete

IndiaAI, Gujarat Govt Host Regional Conclave Ahead of 2026 AI Summit

A regional pre-summit event in Gandhinagar recently gathered leaders to advance AI for good governance.

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

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The IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, along with the Government of Gujarat and IIT Gandhinagar, convened a Regional Pre-Summit Event at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. The initiative is part of the build-up to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for 15–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The conclave brought together senior policymakers, technology leaders, researchers and industry practitioners to examine how AI can accelerate economic, digital and social transformation across sectors. The programme focused on the overarching theme of ‘AI for Good Governance: Empowering India’s Digital Future’.

The inaugural session featured key dignitaries including Bhupendrabhai Rajnikant Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat; Harsh Rameshbhai Sanghavi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat; Arjunbhai Devabhai Modhwadia, Minister for Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat; Manoj Kumar Das, Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat; Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY and Director General, NIC; and Ponugumatla Bharathi, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat.

High-impact keynote sessions led by national and global experts from MeitY, Bhashini, Google Cloud, Microsoft, IBM Research, NVIDIA, Oracle and AWS examined themes including AI in governance, public service delivery, urban development, rural transformation, healthcare, agriculture, fintech and multilingual accessibility enabled through Bhashini.
Delegates also visited an Experience Zone curated by IndiaAI and DST Gujarat, which showcased AI solutions across governance, agriculture, health and industry.

By convening government, industry and academic stakeholders, the conclave aimed to strengthen India’s AI ecosystem through frameworks that prioritise trust, scalability and public interest. Insights generated from the event will contribute directly to the agenda and outcomes of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026.