UltraTech Cement sales up

UltraTech Cement Limited, an Aditya Birla Group company has reported net sales during the quarter at Rs783 crore effectively up by five per cent (after adjusting the freight and trading sales impact) than the third quarter of the previous year (Rs660 crore). Operating Profit was Rs117 crore (Rs58 crore). During the Quarter the company produced 31.27Mt of clinker (28.13Mt) and 30.70Mt of cement (31.04Mt). Clinker capacity utilisation stood at 96 per cent as compared to 86 per cent in the same quarter during the previous year. Effective cement capacity utilisation was lower at 87 per cent vis-à-vis 97 per cent during the third quarter in the previous year consequent to lower clinker exports and restricted despatches from the company’s plant at Andhra Pradesh and Arrakonam.

The company is now increasing the share of cement exports in its export mix. Cement constitutes 51 per cent of the total exports of the company. The rise in turnover is on account of improved domestic and export realisation despite reduced sales volume. Power and fuel costs rose by six per cent during the quarter mainly due to increase in oil products prices. Steps have been initiated for the use of alternative fuel at the company’s plant at GCW to reduce fuel costs.