Leading cement manufacturers reported single-digit volume growth in the June quarter, though their top line was muted on account of the continued downtrend in the price. Listed manufacturers such as UltraTech, Ambuja Cements, ACC, Shree Cements and Dalmia Bharat - in their latest quarter earnings reported gains in volumes, ranging from 3 to 9 per cent and increase in capacity utilisation. However, soft cement prices have put their top line under pressure in the April-June period. Besides, raw material costs went up marginally due to an increase in the cost of fly ash and slag. The all-India average cement price was at around Rs.348 per 50 kg bag in June 2024, down around 3 per cent year-on-year. However, this was higher than Rs.335 per bag in May 2024.Ambuja Cements to invest Rs.16 billion in BiharAmbuja Cements will undertake an investment of Rs.16 billion for the establishment of a cement facility with an overall capacity of 6 million tonne per annum (MTPA) in Warisaliganj, Bihar.The Warisaliganj Cement Grinding Unit will be a standalone facility and will be implemented in three phases.The first phase of 2.4 MTPA capacity will be established at an investment of Rs.11 billion and is expected to be commissioned by December 2025. Ambuja Cements, part of the diversified Adani Portfolio, announced its first venture in Bihar, marking the largest investment in the state by a cement industry player.Contact: Adani GroupTel: 79-26565555Website: www.adani.comJSW joins the race to buy CK Birla's Orient CementSajjan Jindal-led JSW Cement has begun evaluating acquisition of the promoter stake in Orient Cement (OCL) from CK Birla, amid a consolidation wave in the sector that’s seen the Aditya Birla and Adani groups race to pick up assets across the country.The development sees the entry of a third contender for OCL’s 8.5 million tonne per annum (MTPA) capacity after the Adani and Aditya Birla groups, both of which have been in active discussion with Delhi-basedCK Birla. JSW Cement has a current capacity of 16.6 MTPA with units in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka but has aggressive plans to touch 26 MTPA by FY26 and 50 MTPA by 2030 through a combination of Greenfield and Brownfield expansion.  Contact: JSW CementEmail: info@jswcement.inWebsite: www.jswcement.inUltraTech's offer for ICL to open on 19 SeptemberUltraTech Cement's Rs.31.42 billion open offer for acquiring 26 per cent stake in India Cements (ICL) will tentatively open on September 19 and close on October 3. The Aditya Birla group flagship company has proposed to acquire 80.5 million shares of ICL at Rs.390 apiece, said the draft of the offer submitted to bourses. The offer price is 6.3 per cent higher than the closing price of Rs.366.90 of ICL at BSE. The mandatory open offer was triggered after UltraTech announced acquisition of a 32.72 per cent stake in ICL from promoters and their associates for `39.54 billion. If subscribed fully, then based on the `390 price,the open offer will come in at Rs.31.42 billion. Before this, UltraTech had acquired a stake of around 23 per cent in ICL.Contact: UltraTech CementTel: 22-66917800Website: www.ultratechcement.com‘No frenzy’ in the  cement industryThere is no frenzy in the domestic cement industry currently and local players are expanding capacities in a structured manner, said Ajay Kapur, chief executive officer at Adani Cement. The company, India's second biggest by capacity, will also aim for newer acquisitions at less than $80 per tonne. The industry is maturing as a whole, and companies are spending funds wisely, both on organic and inorganic expansions, he said. Adani Cement - consisting of ACC, Ambuja Cements and Sanghi Industries had acquired Penna Cement in June for an enterprise value of Rs.104 billion.Contact: Adani GroupTel: 79-26565555Website: www.adani.com