A few months back, in April 2017 to be specific, we wrote in these columns that “Looking into the future, we are left wondering if pet coke is really a sustainable cost advantage, or an environmental adventure that can backfire”.

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.

Govt sanctions around 31 lakh homes under PMAY The government has sanctioned 30.76 lakh houses since the launch of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) to fulfill its ambitious scheme of Housing for All by 2022, according to housing minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

The mines department had signed 17 MoUs, with a proposed investment worth Rs 45,532 crore, during the Resurgent Rajasthan summit in November 2015. However, till April 2017, only Rs 4,395.27 crore (or 9.65 per cent) investment had materialised.

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.

Historically, the drivers of cement volumes have been infrastructure, construction and real estate activities. Cement volume growth shows a varying correlation with each of these segments.

According to a few analysts and industry watchers, the hikes in the prices of cement by various cement manufacturers are an indication of a possible growth in volumes and probable profitable for cement makers during the current quarter.

Cement production would have shrunk in the March quarter primarily due to the base effect coupled with the note-ban-induced cash crunch and polls in many states during the period, says a report. “The lagged impact of cash crunch and state polls will take a toll on cement production in Q4. Latest data showed cement volumes in February 2017 declined the most in over a decade by 15.8 per cent y-o-y. Volumes also declined by 5 per cent on (a) month-on-month basis,” says an India Ratings report.

The Indian construction sector will remain stable in the next financial year, with a increase in revenue and improvement in earnings, according to ratings agency, India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra).