Cement prices are all set to go up

06 May 2022 CW Team

As per the dealer checks by Kotak Institutional Equities, cement producers tried a Rs 15-20 a bag (5 per cent) hike pan-India, led by sharper increases in the south and the east for April. Only a part of this would get absorbed and more such hikes could be attempted in the coming weeks, it said.

Cement prices are set to go up as costlier Asian thermal coal and higher gas price outlook in Europe are likely to swell expenses for cement manufacturers. Power and fuel costs are likely to increase by 10 per cent in the April-June quarter because of a steep rise in coal and pet coke prices in March.

Cost inflation, muted volume growth and inadequate price hikes led to margin contraction for the quarter ended March.

UltraTech reported flat volumes and its power and fuel costs were higher than pan-India peers ACC and Ambuja Cements. Yet, its operating profit per tonne fell the least. Higher prices of petcoke and coal usually reflect in the financials of the cement makers after a lag of 30-45 days.

Margins contracted for ACC and Ambuja as their costs rose. Price hikes in a seasonally strong quarter did offset pressure to an extent.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..