The Environmental Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) is determined to get a ban on petcoke import, although the ban would not apply to the cement industry, according to Sunita Narain, green activist and member of the EPCA.

Ambuja Cements' exposure to west, north and east India drove strong growth in realisations, which were much better than the forecasts.

The industry is more and more becoming an 'Oligopoly' with just four corporates controlling a major share of cement business. However, UltraTech's acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates' cement business can trigger fight for market share in coming years.

GST is not just an accounting changeover but a systemic one! And the countries who adopted GST faced inflationary pressures during early stages of the cut over time, but proved otherwise in the long run.

The fundamental aspect of GST is the seamless flow of input tax credit along the entire value addition chain, believes Amman Devralia, Executive Director (Whole Time Director) and Head of Finance, IT & Administration, Humboldt Wedag India Private Ltd.

According to news reports, UltraTech Cement's Rs 16,189 crore acquisition of the cement business of Jaiprakash Associates may be 'completed soon', according a top executive in the know of the situation.

ACC Ltd has reported an 8.9 per cent fall in net profit for the quarter ended 31 March. Consolidated net profit for the quarter fell to Rs 211.06 crore from Rs 231.70 crore a year earlier. Consolidated sales in the quarter rose 9.1 per cent to Rs 3,556.70 crore from Rs 3,259.95 crore a year earlier.

Emami Cement has commissioned a cement grinding unit in district Burdwan, West Bengal. The 2 million tonnes/year (t/y) grinding plant cost Rs 5 billion and was commissioned in 13 months, the company said.

The MP Birla Group has chosen Lodestar UM, the media agency from IPG Mediabrands, to handle the media duties of its cement business.