Dalmia Bharat said input cost pressures for the cement industry were easing as tensions in West Asia subsided and the company would continue expansion plans. The chief financial officer, Dharmendra Tuteja, told shareholders at the annual general meeting that cost escalations were moderating but that effects of recent disruptions would persist through April to September. Management expects price adjustments to help protect margins in the near term. Management had flagged war-related cost pressures in the fourth quarter, noting costs could rise by Rs 125-150 per tonne in April to June due to higher fuel, power, logistics and packaging expenses. A brokerage said volume recovery could occur with added capacity and cited a decline in pet coke prices to about $133-134 per t from earlier peaks. The company said supply chain normalisation should resume in or after the September quarter. In financial year 26 net profit rose by more than 65 per cent to Rs 11.58 billion (Rs 11.58 bn) after better realisations, against Rs 6.99 bn in the prior year. The results were affected by a deferred tax charge of Rs 3.37 bn and revenue from operations increased about six per cent to Rs 148.04 bn. Volumes rose two per cent to 30 million tonnes (mn t). The company outlined a capital expenditure programme of more than Rs 100 billion (Rs 100 bn) to raise capacity from 49.5 million tonnes per annum (mn tpa) currently to 66.7 mn tpa by financial year 28. It has committed over Rs 68 bn to add 12 mn tpa at Belgaum, Pune and Kadapa and is acquiring Jaiprakash Associates Limited assets for Rs 28.5 bn, adding 5.2 mn tpa. Dalmia said Belgaum is at an advanced stage and Pune and Kadapa projects are largely on schedule, with installed capacity expected to reach 60.7 mn tpa by the end of financial year 27. The expansion is intended to position the company as a pan-India player and will be funded through internal accruals and debt while India’s installed cement capacity exceeds 720 million tonnes per annum.