JK Lakshmi capacity to reach 8.5Mta by end-2013, India

JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd's capacity is expected to rise to 8.5Mt by end-2013 from 4.7Mt currently, Whole-time Director Shailendra Chouksey said at a conference organised to announce the company's Jan-Mar earnings.    

The Rajasthan-based company reported Jan-Mar net profit of INR303m, down 5.2% YoY. Net sales for the March quarter rose 27.8% to INR5.26bn.    

JK Lakshmi Cement commissioned its 0.6Mt grinding unit in Haryana in April and is expanding capacity of its existing kilns in Rajasthan, he said. The company's INR12.5bn Durg plant in Chhattisgarh with a capacity of 2.7Mta is also on track to completion.    

"On completion of these projects, the company's cement capacity is expected to move up to 8.5Mt by October-December 2013...," a release said.   

In terms of volumes, the company's sales grew 13% to around 1.42Mt in Jan-Mar, he said.