Cement price rises at the end of the financial year are generally avoided in India as they slow down sales, but this year cement producers in the north are breaking with “tradition”. They have decided to raise cement prices for a second time in March.

Northern producers are raising cement prices by INR10 (US$0.15), taking the price of a 50kg bag to INR300-330. This follows a INR10-15 price increase at the start of the month. The second advance is the result of rising input costs.

In the south of the country, cement prices continue to fall, eroding by INR5-10/bag. The price reduction has been attributed to extreme dry conditions, subdued demand, excessive hard selling by smaller players and some dumping by Gujarat-based manufacturers.