Gujarat Ambuja, ACC output surges in March

Backed by the bullish trend on prices, cement majors Gujarat Ambuja Cement (GACL) and ACC reported healthy increase in production and despatch levels for March.

ACC attained a new high of 17.39 lakh tonne in production and 17.46 lakh tonne in despatches. For the financial year 2005-06, the company's despatches crossed 17.94 million tonne, which is also an all-time record for the group.

Another major GACL, recorded a 12 per cent growth in production at 13.33 lakh tonne in March 2006, as compared to 11.85 lakh tonne last year.

Despatches grew at 13 per cent at 13.29 lakh tonne from 11.79 lakh tonne over the same period.

Group company Ambuja Cement Eastern's production grew 16 per cent at 2 lakh tonne from 1.73 lakh tonne.Despatches for March 2006 rose by 23 per cent at 2.18 lakh tonne from 1.77 lakh tonne in the same period last year.

Cement prices have continued their trek north crossing the level of Rs 220 per 50 kg bag in the retail markets of western India, including Mumbai. The prices are still expected to go up by 10-15 per cent.

The whole-sale prices have also seen a steady increase and have gone up to Rs 190 per bag from Rs 165 about a month ago. The Delhi markets too, says dealers, have seen a similar rise and the retail prices have hit the Rs 205 per 50 kg bag mark.