India: CREDAI to import Chinese cement

Following the Telangana government's decision to impose a road tax on trucks from Andhra Pradesh and the spiralling hike of cement prices facing builders, the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India (CREDAI) is planning to import cement, particularly from China.

With truck owners suspending their operations in protest of the new tax, cement shortages have been reported. "At present, the cost of a premium cement bag is INR365 in the retail market, and it is set to increase steeply, as transportation costs will shoot up with the TS government's decision to impose road tax on trucks from AP," said CREDAI Vijayawada chapter president C. Sudhakar.

"In all probability, the cost of a cement bag imported from China will be around INR300. In addition to the availability of quality cement, the price pattern will help in reducing the input cost considerably. It will definitely impact the local industries in Telangana," Mr. Sudhakar said.