Cement prices may increase by up to 10% in next 6 months

Cement prices could go up by up to 10% in the next six months in order to compensate for the increased fuel and transportation costs, according to a top official of industry body CMA. As per Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA), the industry has witnessed 14% growth in the first half of 2018-19— the first double digit growth since 2009-10 — thereby providing an opportunity for correction of prices which have remained stagnant for the last six to seven years. “If not for anything else, there is a very dire need to correct the (cement) pricing. In the last one year we have seen 60-70% rise in cost of fuel. At least to recover some portion of this increase, we need to increase the prices of cement,” CMA President Shailendra Chouksey told media.