The Indian cement sector maintained its upward trend in production and despatch figures for the month of June 2006 as well, though growth rates have come down modestly from the first two months of the April-June quarter.

The best performer was Gujarat Ambuja Cements, which reported double digit growth in both production and despatches over June 2005. Aditya Birla group managed a near double digit growth in despatches though growth in production lagged. There is nothing much to separate between the production and despatch figures of the 2 major cement groups, Aditya Birla and Holcim.

On a month-on-month basis, only ACC managed a marginal growth in despatches as compared to May 2006. Aditya Birla group cement despatches saw a double digit decline on a month-on-month basis.