ACC *CRISIL sees cement demand to rise in the range of 7%-9% backed by buoyant demand.*
According to report, the cement demand is set for its *third straight year of growth with a 7-9% jump to ~425 million tonne (MT) in fiscal 2024. Cement demand grew 11% on-year in the first 10 months of this fiscal.*
There is a positive outlook for the cement industry in India, with *expected growth in demand driven by infrastructure projects, real estate, and affordable rural housing segments.* However, the industry also faces challenges such as high power and fuel costs, as well as high coal and pet coke prices.
Companies with *captive power plants may have an advantage in terms of lower power costs. Shri Keshav Cement and Infra Ltd, with its captive solar power plant and leadership position in a niche Tier III market segment in Karnataka, may be well positioned to benefit from the expected growth in demand for cement.*
Overall, the positive demand outlook for cement in India suggests potential opportunities for companies in the industry, but they will need to navigate challenges such as cost pressures in order to fully capitalize on these opportunities.