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Cement output 16.87% up in April 2004
New Delhi, May 23: Cement production increased by an impressive 16.87 per cent in April 2004 to 10.6 million tonne as against 9.07 million tonne recorded in April 2003.
The impressive growth in both output and despatches was the result of higher consumption growth in Uttaranchal, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Delhi and Kerala. Uttaranchal recorded 20 per cent, the highest, growth in consumption till March 2004, followed by Karnataka and Jharkhand at 15 per cent, Delhi (14 per cent) and Kerala (10 per cent).
"The rise in cement consumption in these states indicates
pick-up in overall construction activities after the last
quarter of 2003-04," an industry expert said.
However, production in April was 5.86 per lower than
11.26 mt output recorded in March 2004 while the despatches
during the month in question declined 7.69 per cent from 11.32
mt in the previous month.
Cement exports showed 33.33 per cent growth in April 2004
as compared to the same month of the previous year, whereas
clinker export recorded a two per cent negative growth.
The industry capacity increased by 1.3 mt to 147.68 mt by
the end of April 2004 from 146.38 mt on March 31, 2004.
The capacity utilisation for the domestic cement industry
stood at 86 per cent last month.
Bureau Report