India: UltraTech Cement has reported strong results for its second quarter that ended on 30 September 2011. Net profit after tax for the quarter surged upwards by 140%, reaching USD57m compared to USD24m for the same quarter in 2010.

Total income for the company has increased by 22%, to USD810m for the quarter under review from USD670m for the similar quarter in 2010. Net sales have risen by 22% over the same period USD800m. However both net profit and sales were lower than USD140m and USD890m respectively, as reported in the previous quarter that ended on 30 June 2011.

UltraTech has an installed capacity of about 52Mt/yr and it hopes to increase that by over 9Mt/yr by mid-2014. The company warned that a surplus scenario in the Indian cement industry would likely continue for 2-3 years.

"Variable cost rose by 14% (during the quarter) because of the increase in input and energy costs. The 30% increase in the price of domestic coal, continuous rise in prices of imported coal together with escalation of freight costs... have constrained the company's performance," the firm said in a statement. It continued, "Growing input costs will result in a squeeze in margins."

Cement demand in India, the world's second-largest producer after China, has declined in recent months on a slump in the construction and real estate industries due to high interest rates and growth moderation in Asia's third-largest economy.