Cement prices may go up by Rs 4 a bag

Retail cement prices in Mumbai are set for another round of increases in the next couple of days. Cement companies Gujarat Ambuja Cement, Larsen & Toubro, Grasim Industries and the Associated Cement Companies (ACC) are looking at increasing the prices of a 50kg bag by Rs4 to around Rs172-174 (US$3.82 or an equivalent US$76.4/tonne).  A local cement dealer said: ³Cement pick-up has been good in the last few days and therefore the prices are likely to go up. Major cement makers have indicated a price hike of around Rs4 in the next two-three days.²  A senior industry official said, ³Prices in the wholesale segment are unlikely to be affected and will remain constant.²  Cement analysts said that other parts of Maharashtra could also see a price hike in retail cement if the increase in Mumbai is sustained.  However, this latest price hike is not expected to spread to other parts of the country.