Cement production clocked a 7.24 per cent rise in April at 11.41Mt as against 10.49Mt in the year ago month. Dispatches grew by 9.25 per cent to 11.46Mt from 10.49Mt during the monthly review period, cement manufacturers association said in its latest updates. Exports of cement posted a 20 per cent growth in April to 0.48Mt from 0.4Mt in the same month last year. However, export of clinker showed a decline of 12.24 per cent to 0.43Mt from 0.49Mt in the review period.
The cement industry’s capacity stood at 152.09Mt at the beginning of this fiscal. Closing stock at the end of April 2005 stood at 0.97Mt, while closing clinker stood at 4.37Mt last month. Capacity utilisation was noted at 90 per cent last month as against 87 per cent in the corresponding period previous year.
