India April output slows

India's cement production in April rose 9.5% on year to 15.99Mt, the Cement Manufacturers' Association said today. Output during April, however, was 11.1% lower than 17.99Mt produced a month ago.    

Cement despatches in April rose 7.6% YoY to 15.48Mt, the association said.    

India's cement production in 2011-12 (Apr-Mar) had increased 6.3% to 179.79Mt and despatches rose 6.5% to 178.9Mt.

Cement sales seems to have slowed down in April due to labour shortage and lack of demand from infrastructure companies, Business Standard notes. The paper cited Basanth Patil, Senior Research of Dalmia Securities, saying said infrastructure activities generally slow in April as companies curtail fresh purchases in the start of new financial year. “Demand may improve by three to four per cent in May and June. For this fiscal, we are expecting a subdued growth of 7-8 per cent.”