Cement prices seen stable for now, India

Cement prices are expected to remain subdued with the imminent onset of monsoon. Though many manufacturers have reported a jump in production and despatches for May, sector analysts are of the view there will be no fluctuation in prices for the next few months.
 
Urmik Chaaya, cement analyst with Anand Rathi Securities, said, “There won’t be any considerable change in the prices. The rise in production and despatches would be countered by the onset of monsoon, which would prevent any fluctuation.”
 
Cement manufacturers registered an increase in production in May. Associated Cement Companies (ACC) posted an increase of 12.02 per cent, while Gujarat Ambuja Cements (GACL) reported a six per cent rise compared with the corresponding period of previous fiscal.
 
ACC’s cement production for the month stood at 1.565Mt as against 1.397Mt in May 2004, while sales rose 8.31 per cent at 1.524Mt during the month under review from 1.397Mt. On a cumulative basis, the production in April-May 2005 was up by 9.27 per cent at 3.100Mt  (2.837 Mt), while sales increased by 10.81 per cent to 3.095Mt (2.793Mt).