Coal news and updates

India’s February cement output down by 5%

April 27: India’s cement production stood at 22.56 million tons (mt) in February 2015, down by 5.25% from 23.81 mt in January 2015 and down 2.55% from 23.15 mt in December 2014, according to a compilation by ICMW.

India’s cement production stood at 21.95 mt in February 2014.

During the first 11 months (April-February) of financial year 2014-15, total cement production stood at 246.34 mt as compared to 230.85 mt produced during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Total cement production during 2013-14 stood at 255.63 mt compared to 248.23 mt recorded during the previous year.

Cement manufacturers are currently operating at around 75% of the total installed capacity while the remaining 25% continues to lie idle due to lack of adequate orders, said an industry source. However, the cement industry looks optimistic of a slight improvement in the market in the near future, sources said.

Despite lukewarm demand, some of the major cement manufacturers are in capacity addition mode and are coming up with new grinding units in central India. This is primarily due to ready availability of ash, he added.

The following table shows India’s month-wise cement production in 2012-13 (revised), 2013-14 and 2014-15: