Cement sales rose strongly in June as firms stepped up construction activity across the country spurred by strong growth in Asia’s fourth-largest economy. 
 
Sales rose 9.8% to 2.3Mt in June 2005 for the cement companies in the Aditya Birla Group over the year-ago period, while production climbed 13.5% to 2.3Mt.
 
ACC said that its June shipments rose 10.5% over the year to 1.5Mt. The Mumbai-based company said production totaled 1.44Mt, up 9.9% YoY. 
 
Gujarat Ambuja reported a 10% rise in cement sales for June 2005 to 1.1Mt while production rose by 10% to 1.1Mt over the year ago period. 
 
For the quarter ended June 30, 2005, the Aditya Birla Group reported a 11.2% rise in sales to 7.2Mt while production rose 12% to 7.6Mt.