Cement consumption may go up by 8-9%

New Delhi January 10, 2014: Cement consumption in the country is expected to rise by 8-9 per cent over the next year, taking estimated cement consumption in 2013-14 fiscal to about 280-285 million tonnes (mt), from around 260 million tones in 2012-13 fiscal, the Cement Manufacturers Association said on Thursday.

The association, which held its 52nd Annual General Meeting here, announced that O.P. Puranmalka, Whole-time Director, UltraTech Cement has been elected as its new President for 2013-14, while Shailendra Chouksey, Whole-time Director, JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd, has been elected as the Vice-President for 2013-14.

Puranmalka raised concerns over the lag in the industry, which has been seeing excess capacity of about 100 mt.

“The slowdown in the economy, including dried up investments in infrastructure, has adversely impacted the cement industry and its capacity utilisation. Aggressive efforts need to be undertaken to catalyse the industry,” Puranmalka said. -Business Line