ACC, Ambuja's March sales up 9.3%

Buoyed by increased construction activity, Swiss firm Holcim-controlled cement makers ACC and Ambuja Cements today reported a 9.3% rise in their March sales to 4.22 million tonne.

The two had recorded a cumulative sales of 3.86 million tonne in the same month last fiscal, statement issued by the firms said.

Both the companies improved upon their sales in March this year compared to the same month last year.

While ACC's sales increased from 1.94 million tonne to 2.19 million tonne, Ambuja Cements have bettered its tally to 2.04 million tonne in March this year from 1.92 million tonne in the same month last year.

Cement consumption generally reaches its peak after the monsoon in sync with the increased construction activity.

In terms of production, both ACC and Ambuja Cements also bettered their performances in March this year from the same month last year.

Cumulative production of the two firms increased to 4.14 million tonne in March this year from 3.85 million tonne. ACC's production rose to 2.19 million tonne from 1.94 million tonne in March, 2010. Ambuja Cements' production went up to 1.95 million tonne from 1.91 million tonne.

ACC and Ambuja Cements have around 20% of India's total cement installed capacity with big brother ACC contributing 27 million tonne per annum and Ambuja Cements 25 million tonne per annum in 2010.

Work is on at ACC to increase the capacity to 30 million tonne per annum by the middle of the current year and at Ambuja Cements to 27 million tonne per annum within 2011.

During the first three months of the current year, sales of the two firms increased by nearly 1 million tonne to 11.81 million tonne from 10.92 million tonne in the January-March period last year. Similarly, production rose to 11.9 million tonne from 10.92 million tonne.