It is our job to monitor the cement market and to try to decode the signals emanating from the environment in order to project an outlook for consumption growth.

The Foundation of Infrastructure Research Studies Training (FIRST) hosted the 5th EQUIPMENT INDIA Annual Awards at Hotel LALIT in New Delhi on Friday 16th February, 2018.

Cement demand is expected to grow by 4% to reach 300 million tonne in 2018-19. The number of infrastructure projects planned by the government are now in various phases where work is expected to progress faster.

The year 2017 has remained a challenging year for the cement industry. As per the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, cement production fell 2 per cent yoy in April-October 2017.

The earnings projections of cement companies for FY18 are likely to suffer amid lower antic-ipated sales volumes and subdued prices. According to dealer estimates, the all-India average cement price fell by 2 per cent sequentially to Rs 326 per 50 kg bag in the December 2017 quarter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mandated affordable housing for all (read slum-residents, lower-income group and middle-class income group beneficiaries, who would be provided subsidised homes and interest subsidies to place homes at reasonable market values) in India as target for achievement between June 2015 and 2022.

With GST rolling over at the start of quarter of July-September 2017, the cement industry was caught off guard about the new process, but more than euphoric on the One Nation One Tax regime.

Foundation of Infrastructure Research Studies Training (FIRST) hosted the 15th CONSTRUCTION WORLD Annual Awards at ITC Grand Central, Parel, in Mumbai. The names of India’s Fastest Growing Construction Companies were unveiled at the grand award ceremony, which was attended by well-known personalities from the construction world and the industry stalwarts.

Although it has been a pessimistic quarter for the Indian cement industry as data show cement production fall year-on-year, that began in December 2016.