Weak demand hits cement

Weakening demand has hit the Indian cement sector. It has seen volumes fall 1 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) in the fourth quarter. After the first half of FY13, companies in the sector saw the pricing power diminish. Analysts believe that average cement prices have remained largely flat sequentially at Rs 288 per bag (up 5 per cent y-o-y). AAC blocks to ease construction burden As prices of steel, cement, jelly and other raw materials are skyrocketing, the construction industry in Hubli is turning to light weight aerated concrete blocks for its advantages. For the first time, autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks are being used in construction works in Hubli after Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.