Page 8 - Cement Industry

UltraTech Cement slapped with two GST demand orders totalling Rs 72 lakh

Leading cement maker UltraTech Cement has received two demand orders, interest and penalties totalling Rs 72.06 lakh from the GST authorities. The company said it will challenge the orders before the appellate authorities. It has received an order from Assistant Commissioner, Bathinda, for a demand of "Rs 25.11 lakh together with interest and penalty, alleging that the ISD (Input Service Distributor) credit not reflected" in the statement of FY18, the Aditya Birla Group firm said in a regulatory filing on Friday. On Saturday, UltraTech in a regulatory informed that it has received another order on GST from Deputy Commissioner, State Tax, Bhavnagar, raising demand for "Rs 46.95 lakh together with interest and penalty, alleging availing ineligible ITC (input tax credit )". According to UltraTech, it has a "good case on merits to defend the matter before the Appellate Authorities" and shall contest the order. The order has no major financial impact on the company, it added. The Adit

UltraTech Cement Q3 sales up 6% to 27.3 MT, overseas production up 20%

Leading cement maker UltraTech's consolidated sales rose by 6 per cent to 27.32 million tonnes (MT) year-on-year in the third quarter ended December 31, 2023. The total sales volume in the domestic market was up 5 per cent to 26.06 MT during the quarter under review, the Aditya Birla Group firm said in a regulatory filing. The company's grey cement production in the domestic market was at 25.44 MT in the October-December quarter FY24, reporting 5 per cent growth, while its white cement production was 0.48 MT, up 14 per cent. UltraTech's overseas production, mainly grey cement, was 1.38 MT in Q3/FY24, up 20 per cent, the statement added. The Aditya Birla Group firm has a consolidated capacity of 138.39 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of grey cement. It has 23 integrated manufacturing units, 29 grinding units, one clinkerisation unit and eight Bulk Packaging Terminals. UltraTech is the third largest cement producer in the world, excluding the China market.

Eight core industries growth up at 7.8% in November vs 5.7% year-ago

The output of eight key infrastructure sectors increased by 7.8 per cent in November 2023 against a 5.7 per cent expansion in the year-ago period, according to the official data released on Friday. All sectors except crude oil and cement recorded healthy production growth in the month under review. The core sector (coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity) growth in October was 12 per cent. Coal and refinery products output recorded double-digit growth. The output growth of eight sectors was 8.6 per cent in April-November 2023-24 against 8.1 per cent in the year-ago period.

UltraTech eyeing Volume expansion in south, unlikely to disturb prices

Deal with Kesoram Industries likely to add 10.75 million tonnes capacity under UltraTech Cement's fold

Shree Cement commissions high capacity kiln for Rs 3,500 cr Rajasthan plant

Shree Cement Limited on Thursday announced the commissioning of a kiln at its new integrated production facility in Nawalgarh, Rajasthan, with a rated capacity of 11,500 tonnes per day. This kiln stands among one of the highest capacity units in the world, and is empowered by cutting-edge technology, allowing utilisation of alternative fuels and ensuring optimal energy efficiency, the company said. The Rs 3,500 crore new cement plant has an annual production capacity of 3.5 million tonnes of cement annually. The plant also features a 33 MW waste heat recovery-based power plant, contributing to electricity generation without relying on fossil fuels. This innovative approach utilises waste gases from the clinkerisation process, aligning with the company's dedication to environmental responsibility. "In our pursuit to become an 80 million tonnes company by the year 2028, we are thrilled to announce the commissioning of the kiln at our new integrated facility in Nawalgarh, Rajasthan. T

Ambuja Cements completes acquisition of Sanghi Industries at Rs 5,185 crore

As part of the deal's completion, Ambuja Cements also executed a trade (in on and off-market trade) to acquire 54.51 per cent of the voting share capital from the promoters of Sanghi Industries

Hit by regional factors, cement makers witness uneven volume growth in Q2

Dalmia Cement, a dominant player in the East Indian market attributed its lower growth volumes to the lingering impact of a failed strategy tried in the June-23 ended quarter

JSW, Vedanta's Rs 10K cr investment in cement plants stuck in red tape

Mega investments of JSW Group and Vedanta in setting up cement plants in Punjab are awaiting approval from the state government, sources aware of the matter said. The Vedanta Group company, Talwandi Sabo Power Plant (TSPL) plans to set up cement manufacturing plants in Punjab, with an overall investment of around Rs 10,000 crore. TSPL has plans to set up multiple cement plants adjacent to its existing power plant in the Mansa district of Punjab, and one of these plants will be set up by the JSW Group. The Fly ash from the TSPL's power plant will be used to manufacture cement. However, the cement project, which has the potential to generate over 2,000 jobs for the Punjab, is awaiting approvals from various state government departments, they said. According to the sources, TSPL's proposal has been awaiting approval from the Punjab Government's office of the Chief Town Planner and Director of Factories for the last 18 months. This is despite assurance at the highest level at the Inve

JK Cement Q2 results: Profit up 62% to Rs 178 cr, revenue rises 23%

JK Cement Ltd (JKCL) on Saturday reported 62.18 per cent rise in consolidated profit to Rs 178.47 crore for the second quarter ended September 2023. It logged a net profit of Rs 110.04 crore in the July-September period a year ago, according to a regulatory filing by JKCL. Revenue from operation was up 23.23 per cent to Rs 2,752.77 crore during the quarter as against Rs 2,233.84 crore a year ago. Total expense in the September quarter was up 21.08 per cent at Rs 2,537.89 crore. Total income was Rs 2,782.10 crore, up 23.66 per cent year-on-year.

Competition Commission of India launches market study on cement sector

CCI said that some of the objectives of the study are to study the market trends including movements in cement price, cost, production, capacity, capacity utilisation and profitability

JK Lakshmi Cement Q2 result: PAT increases by 55% to Rs 95.87 crore

JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd on Thursday reported a 55.15 per cent increase in consolidated profit after tax to Rs 95.87 crore in the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. The company posted a consolidated profit after tax of Rs 61.79 crore in the July-September quarter last fiscal, according to a regulatory filing from JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd. Its revenue from operations was up 14.63 per cent to Rs 1,574.53 crore compared to Rs 1,373.55 crore in the year-ago period. Total expenses of JK Lakshmi Cement was at Rs 1,447.52 crore, up 11.36 per cent. Shares of JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd on Thursday settled at Rs 674.30 on BSE, up 0.33 per cent from the previous close.

India Cements' net loss contracts to Rs 81.39 crore during Jul-Sep quarter

Cement maker The India Cements Ltd has reported a standalone net loss for the July-September 2023 quarter at Rs 81.39 crore, the company said on Wednesday. The standalone net loss during the corresponding quarter of last year stood at Rs 137.58 crore. For the six-month period ended September 30, 2023 the net loss was at Rs 156.66 crore, as against a net loss of Rs 61.49 crore registered in the year-ago period. The standalone total income slipped to Rs 1,228.06 crore, from Rs 1,258.52 crore registered during the same period last year. For the half year ended September 30, 2023, the standalone total income was at Rs 2,627.97 crore as compared to Rs 2,712.79 crore registered in the same period of last year. The performance of the company was better than that of earlier quarters turning out a marginally positive EBITDA despite the restricted operations caused by the stressed working capital position, the company said. The EBITDA for the quarter under review was at Rs 14 crore sizably

Adani Group refinances $3.5 bn debt taken for ACC-Ambuja acquisition

The refinancing programme was concluded with 10 international banks with a debt maturity of up to 3 years

Rs 47 trn required to decarbonise country's steel, cement plants: Study

India's existing steel and cement plants, which play a vital role in the country's economic development, will require Rs 47 lakh crore in additional capital expenditure (CAPEX) to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, according to a new study. India is the second-largest producer of steel and cement in the world. But both are emission-intensive processes making these hard-to-abate industries. The study, the first-of-its-kind calculation of the cost of decarbonising these industries, also pointed out these two sectors will need Rs 1 lakh crore each year in additional operational expenditure (OPEX) to achieve net zero. Net zero means achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere and those taken out. The analysis by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) also found that an 8 to 25 per cent reduction in steel emissions and a 32 per cent reduction in cement emissions is possible without any price increase by adopting efficient technologies such as ..

Steel, cement industry need Rs 47 trn investment to meet net zero goals

The domestic steel and cement industry will require an additional Rs 47 lakh crore investment to meet net zero targets, according to a report. India is the second-largest producer of steel and cement in the world, and both are emission-intensive hard-to-abate industries. "India's existing steel and cement plants will require Rs 47 lakh crore (USD 627 billion) in additional capital expenditure (CAPEX) to achieve net-zero carbon emissions," the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) report said. These two sectors will need Rs 1 lakh crore each year in additional operational expenditure (OPEX) to go net-zero, the report added. The CEEW analyses also found that an 825 per cent reduction in steel emissions and a 32 per cent reduction in cement emissions is possible without any price increase by adopting efficient technologies such as waste-heat recovery and energy-efficient drives and controls. Moreover, a 33 per cent reduction in the combined carbon emissions of the steel and

Adani's $3.5 bn Ambuja loan moves ahead after some banks get approval

The three banks are Barclays Plc, Deutsche Bank AG and Standard Chartered Plc

Result preview: Cement companies may report firm profit growth for Q2

Stable prices and costs to help earnings report a higher growth over a low profitability base of last year

UltraTech Cement's consolidated sales up 15% to 26.69 MT in 2nd quarter

UltraTech Cement's consolidated sales rose 15.54 per cent to 26.69 million tonne (MT) year-on-year in the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. The company produced 23.10 MT cement in July-September period a year ago, the Aditya Birla Group firm said in a sales volume data filed on bourses. Total sales volume in the domestic market was up 15.37 per cent to 25.66 MT during the quarter under review. It was 22.24 MT in Q2/FY23. Its grey cement production in the domestic market was at 25.24 MT in September quarter FY24, reporting 15.46 per cent growth, while its white cement production was 0.42 MT, up 10.52 per cent. UltraTech's overseas production, mainly grey cement was 1.18 MT in Q2/FY24, up 21.64 per cent. The company has a consolidated capacity of 137.85 million tonne per annum (MTPA) of grey cement. It has 23 integrated manufacturing units, 29 grinding units, one clinkerisation unit and eight Bulk Packaging Terminals. UltraTech is the third largest cement producer in the wor

Key infra sector growth rises to 14-month high of 12.1% in August

The expansion in August is the highest since June 2022, when it was 13.2 per cent

Infra push to drive cement demand up 10-12% this fiscal: Crisil Ratings

The massive infra spending by the government towards building roads, railway lines and power, among others, will boost cement demand by 10-12 per cent this fiscal, according to a report. The Centre has increased its budget allocation for infrastructure -- such as roads, railway lines/stations, power, including renewables, urban infra, telecom, ports, airports, and water works, among others -- by Rs 1.6 lakh crore to Rs 5.9 lakh crore for fiscal 2024 from a revised estimate of Rs 4.3 lakh crore for fiscal 2023. Continuing the robust ride of the past two fiscals, cement demand is likely to grow 10-12 per cent year-on-year to 440 million tonne in fiscal 2024, driven by strong offtake from the infrastructure segment, Crisil Ratings said in a note Friday. Cement demand grew by 12 per cent in fiscal 2023 and by 8 per cent in fiscal 2022. Combined with stable cement prices and softening power and fuel costs, the operating profit of cement manufacturers is likely to recover by Rs 200/tonne