Ramco Cements eyes price hike

Hyderabad: Chennai-based Ramco Cements Limited which has cement manufacturing plants in Andhra Pradesh and other states, feels hike in cement prices in Telugu states is imperative as the prevailing prices are unviable for the manufacturers.

"Companies have to increase cement prices as current prices are unviable. There is no other way. Cement prices in Hyderabad range from Rs 220 to Rs 270 per bag. Rates are similar in Andhra Pradesh though we get Rs 10-15 more in Visakhapatnam and Rayalaseema region," Ramakrishnan, president (Marketing), Ramco Cement, told The Hans India.

Asked what kind of price hike the company was looking at, he said cement prices in Tamil Nadu and Kerala crossed Rs 400 per bag. "In Telugu states too, prices peaked up to Rs 380 per bag in the past.

It will be good for us if prices reach that level at least for three months," he said. On sales in Telugu states, Ramakrishnan said: "We sell around 1.25 lakh tonnes of cement in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

AP is a big market for us as we have our manufacturing base there. We do extremely well in Godavari districts and Visakhapatnam. We also supply cement for constructions in Amaravati. There are many suppliers though".

Reports indicate that cement companies are gearing up to increase cement prices from September 1.

Meanwhile, Ramco launched Ramco Supercrete cement in Telugu states. Balaji K Moorthy, the company's Executive Director (Marketing), said the new cement, compatible with M-sand, would offer crack-free concrete.