UltraTech - March 2019

UltraTech Cement met with the Indian state government earlier this month to discuss spiralling cement prices in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Some cement companies have increased prices by INR40-60 (US$0.58-0.87)/50kg bag on the back of rising demand.

Andhra Pradesh is seeing huge infrastructure construction activity, along with the building of a new capital city in Amaravati, near Vijayawada. Cement consumption in Andhra Pradesh and the neighbouring state of Telangana hit a combined 3.1Mt and 3Mt in January and February this year, respectively. The government is now in discussions with a number of leading cement companies, including UltraTech, on ways to control cement prices, particularly ahead of the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and the Indian general election, both due to take place between 11 April and 19 May this year.