Date:03/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/11/03/stories/2004110301660200.htm

Back Cement output, despatches up

Our Bureau

Mumbai, Nov. 2

THE four cement majors in the country have reported year-on-year increase in despatches and production during October.

The increase in despatch varied greatly, ranging from 27 per cent in the case of Gujarat Ambuja, to 10 per cent in the case of UltraTech Cement Ltd.

The Associated Cement Companies reported a 13.79 per cent increase in despatches for the month. Despatches in October amounted to 14.02 lakh tonnes whereas in October 2003 it had been 12.32 lakh tonnes.

Production for the month grew 9.93 per cent, to 13.94 lakh tonnes (12.68 lakh tonnes).

Gujarat Ambuja shipped 12.93 lakh tonnes of cement, up 27 per cent from the corresponding year-ago despatches of 10.15 lakh tonnes. Production grew 19 per cent, to 12.68 lakh tonnes (10.62 lakh tonnes).

Grasim has reported a 11.34 per cent increase in shipments of cement and clinker for October. Despatches for the month stood at 11.57 lakh tonnes (10.39 lakh tonnes). Production at Grasim moved up 8.39 per cent, to 11.42 lakh tonnes (10.53 lakh tonnes).

UltraTech Cement (now an AV Birla group company) reported a 10 per cent increase in dispatches of cement and clinker, at 13.67 lakh tonnes (12.43 lakh tonnes). Production at the company, at 10.70 lakh tonnes (9.83 lakh tonnes), was 8.77 per cent higher.