It has been locally reported that Chettinad Cements, The India Cements, Dalmia Cements and Ramco Cements have started shipping cement to Myanmar in the past few months.

Depressed market conditions for the second year running have forced cement makers in south India to look at different export markets.

"We started shipments to Myanmar last month of about 10,000 to 12,000t. It is not very remunerative, but when the chips are down, we have to do something to stay afloat," said Vipin Agarwal, CEO-south, Dalmia Cements. He said that manufacturers make token profits from this market but have started seeding it with the hope that it will turn profitable in future. Dalmia moves its cement from Dalmiapuram near Trichy in central Tamil Nadu to Tuticorin port in southern Tamil Nadu, from where it heads to Myanmar.

The shipments to Myanmar follow attempts to test the Sri Lankan market with exports.