Page 5 - Cement Firms
Cement utilisation improves as capacity addition returns
Demand recovery in certain regional pockets pushing fresh investment
 "Cement utilisation improves as capacity addition returns")
No cheer for cement makers in FY19, rising costs to hit profitability: Icra
India's 460 million tonne cement industry, world's second largest, is likely to continue facing tough times in 2018-19 too. Hit by gross mismatch in supply and demand for nearly a decade now leading to poor capacity utilisation of less than 70 per cent, the sector growth has remained stunt at lower digit growth trajectory.Now, despite government's impetus on infrastructure development, the sector may face pressure on its profitability given the rising costs of input materials and capacity utilisation will hover around 65 per cent, says a report from rating agency ICRA.According to the report, the cement makers have witnessed rising energy and freight costs on the back of higher prices of pet coke, coal and diesel during the first half of 2017-18. "The pet coke prices have risen by around 32 per cent in first half of FY18 on a year-on-year basis while coal prices have increased by 44 per cent which has resulted in higher power and fuel expenses during the period," says Sabyasachi ...
 "No cheer for cement makers in FY19, rising costs to hit profitability: Icra")
Price hikes won't lead to gains for cement firms
The increase after six months of decline should only help neutralise cost pressures
 "Price hikes won't lead to gains for cement firms")