Indian cement makers want cuts

Indian cement makers want cuts
05 July 2004


Indian cement manufacturers have asked the government to reverse last year’s hike in excise duty in its budget for the current financial year, which is due to be released on Thursday.  The Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) said cement is the most heavily-taxed infrastructure input in India, with government levies comprising over 80 percent of the ex-factory price.   This rate of taxation is the highest in the 17 countries of the Asia-Pacific region, it said.  Last year, the government hiked excise duty on cement by 14.3 percent to 400 rupees per tonne.  The industry body has urged the government to exempt all the cement used in roads from payment of excise duty and sales tax. It has also asked the government to curb entry tax levied by state governments on the commodity. Published under Cement News