June cement despatches dip

Cement despatches of cement majors Grasim Industries and Gujarat Ambuja Cements have dipped in June due to monsoon, while despatches of UltraTech Cemco have increased marginally.

Grasim's despatches stood at 10.52 lakh tonne in June, a 2.78 per cent decline against despatches of 10.86 lakh tonne in June 2003. The company's production stood at 10.32 lakh tonne in the month.

Gujarat Ambuja Cement's despatches for the month dipped by 1 per cent at 11.7 lakh tonne, against 11.8 lakh tonne in the corresponding period of the previous year. The company produced 11.7 lakh tonne in the month, against 11.8 lakh tonne in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Cement analysts said, "Sales in the southern and western markets have been weak in June, mainly due to the monsoon, while the northern and eastern region have been relatively better."