Coal news and updates

India’s cement production falls 6.91% in Feb m-o-m

April 17: India’s cement production stood at 21.95 million tons (mt) during the month of February 2014, down 6.91% from 23.58 mt produced in January 2013, according to a compilation by ICMW.

Total cement production during April-February, 2014 stood at 230.84 mt compared to 223.44 mt recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Due to the dull market conditions, currently, cement manufacturers are operating at only around 70% of the total installed capacity while the remaining 30% is lying idle due to lack of adequate orders, said an industry source.

“However, people are now waiting eagerly for the election results. Once the new government comes into power, what policy decisions they take will determine the market scenario to a large extent,” said sources.

Despite this, some of the major cement manufacturers are in a capacity addition mode and are coming up with new grinding units in central India. This is primarily due to ready availability of ash, a senior cement industry official said on conditions of anonymity.

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

*Figures may not tally due to rounding off the decimals.