Displaying items by tag: India
JK Cement sets up distribution deal with Vakrangee Kendra
10 October 2023India: JK Cement has agreed a partnership with Vakrangee to sell cement through the Vakrangee Kendra network. The franchise provides a range of services including banking, insurance, commerce and government services from over 21,000 locations in 32 states and union territories. Many of the outlets provide digital services in so-called ‘underserved’ rural, semi-urban and urban locales.
Adani looking to reduce reliance on distributors and wholesalers
09 October 2023India: Adani Group's cement businesses are looking to cut their reliance on distributors and wholesalers as the country's second-largest cement maker looks to boost its profitability. As part of a pilot project, Ambuja Cements and ACC have reduced the number of distributors from 12 to three in the south Gujarat region, which is home to half of the state's small and medium industries and a fifth of the state's population, according to the Mint newspaper. Both firms are expected to reduce the number of distributors across the wider country in the coming months.
"The profitability of the distributors is more than some of the cement manufacturers," said an executive privy to the development. "This needs to change. Once you have fewer distributors, they can continue making more money on volumes, provided they aggressively seek discounts. Both Ambuja and ACC are very strong brands and can do even better if we build an even better engagement with retailers. Additionally, all institutional sales will be done by ACC or Ambuja. So, if there is a large requirement for, say, a flyover project, instead of a wholesaler seeking a bulk order, the cement manufacturer will directly provide to the needs of the contractor."
Adani Group became India's second-biggest cement maker in May 2022 when it paid US$10.5bn to Holcim to buy Ambuja Cements and its subsidiary ACC.
Adani Cement and UltraTech Cement may join race to acquire Heidelberg Materials’ Indian business
05 October 2023India: The Hindu newspaper has reported that Adani Cement and UltraTech Cement may submit offers for Heidelberg Materials’ Indian business. This follows the news that parent company Heidelberg Materials has reportedly entered into talks with JSW Cement over the possible sale of the business. It consists of cement plants in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, in addition to a cement terminal and four grinding plants across India.
Global Cement reported on 4 October 2023 that Heidelberg Materials’ Indian subsidiary HeidelbergCement India had said it was ‘unaware’ of any discussions between its parent company and JSW Cement.
India: Orient Cement has commissioned a waste heat recovery (WHR) plant at its Chittapur cement plant in Karnataka. Reuters has reported that the producer plans to subsequently scale up the WHR plant in a second construction phase.
HeidelbergCement India unaware of any discussions between Heidelberg Materials and JSW Cement
04 October 2023India: HeidelbergCement India has clarified that it is ‘unaware’ of reported discussions between its parent company Heidelberg Materials and JSW Cement over the possible transfer of the former’s Indian assets, Reuters has reported.
Heidelberg Materials owns 13.4Mt/yr-worth of cement capacity in India, of which HeidelbergCement India comprises 6.3Mt (47%).
India: Heidelberg Materials has entered preliminary discussions over the possible acquisition of its Indian business by JSW Cement. The business commands 13.4Mt/yr in cement production capacity, 7.1Mt/yr (53%) of it via Zuari Cement and 6.3Mt (47%) via HeidelbergCement India.
ET Now News has reported that JSW Cement made an unsolicited offer for the assets. The company aims to raise its capacity by 46% to 60Mt/yr by the end of 2028, in order to be among the top five cement producers in India.
India: JSW Cement is conducting a pilot project in the use of electric vehicles for cement transportation. The producer has introduced five Murugappa electric cement trucks into its fleet in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It expects these to eliminate 150t/yr of CO2 emissions from its logistics operations.
Daijiworld News has reported that CEO Nilesh Narwekar said “The pilot project is an important milestone in making our future much greener and more purposeful.” He added “Based on the success of these pilot trials, we will scale-up the integration of these trucks across our cement operations in India.”
India: UltraTech Cement sold 26.7Mt of cement during the second quarter of the 2024 financial year (1 July – 30 September 2023). This corresponds to year-on-year growth of 16% from 23.1Mt in the second quarter of the previous financial year. Sales in India accounted for 25.7Mt (96%) of total volumes, while overseas sales accounted for 1.18Mt (4%).
UltraTech Cement has a cement capacity of 138Mt/yr across its 23 cement plants and 29 grinding units.
Worker dies at Satna cement plant
02 October 2023India: A 25-year-old man died after becoming trapped in a belt conveyor at a cement plant in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna District. The Free Press Journal newspaper has reported that the man had been working alone in the plant’s packing plant at the time of the disaster.
Multiple producers, including Birla Corporation, Century Cement, Jaypee Cements and Prism Cement, operate integrated cement plants in Satna.
India: Anjani Portland Cement has appointed Rajesh Kumar Dhoot as its chief financial officer. He succeeds RS Ramanjaneyulu following his resignation. Dhoot is a chartered accountant with over 25 years of professional experience in the cement, sugar, pipe and textile sectors. He has worked in the cement industry for over 15 years, most recently with Chettinad Cement since 2014. Prior to this he held positions with UltraTech Cement from 2006 to 2014.