As unlock looms, capacity utilisation improves for steel, cement companies

For cement companies, easing of logistical hurdles and improved workers' availability have helped move production levels in May

Capacity utilisation at steel and cement companies has improved significantly in May after a sharp drop in April.

A revival in domestic demand to a limited extent, exports and easing of curbs, are driving major private sector steel companies to ramp up production, now hovering between 70 per cent and near full capacity levels. Some cement companies too have increased capacity utilisation to about 60 per cent. Steel and cement were the biggest shockers - recording a more than 80 per cent drop - in the core sector output in April.  However, as Unlock 1.0 kicks in, domestic demand is