India’s cement output rose 6.69 per cent to 10.2Mt in the month of January this year, compared with an output of 9.56Mt in the corresponding period of the previous year, according to the latest reports by the Cement Manufacturer’s Association. Cement despatches in the month were at 10.2Mt, an increase of 5.75 per cent, over 9.64Mt in the corresponding month of the previous year. During the April- January period, the output recorded a 5.1 per cent increase at 95.8Mt, against an output of 91.15Mt in the same period of 2002-03. Despatches in the ten-month period also increased 4.97 per cent to 95.53Mt from 91.01Mt in the corresponding ten-month period of the previous year.
"There is strong demand for cement from infrastructure projects, including canals, dams and roads. With industry expansion beginning to gather steam, industry prospects look particularly good in the coming months," said a senior industry official. "It’s been a bumper crop this year. This will also augur well for housing demand."
