The rising prices of imported coal are expected to put pressure on the margins of cement producers such as UltraTech Cement, Ambuja Cements, India Cements and Binani Cement from Apr-Jun 2010.

Prices of imported coal have risen by 45 per cent to US$81.67/t from US$55/t in September 2009. Prices of inputs such as coal, slag and petroleum products have started rising and could harden in 2010-2011, pushing up costs of cement companies.