Cement cos can ill afford to undercut prices

First Person/ S R B Ramesh Chandra

 Recovering from a three-year low of Rs 85 per bag in August in Hyderabad, cement prices are now hovering over Rs 140 per bag in the city. Prices went up in other places as well in the state.  S R B Ramesh Chandra, the joint managing director of Coromandel Cements, played a key role in convincing his fellow producers on the need to refrain from cut-throat competition, which was considered to be the prime reason for the price fall.  However, the rise in the cement prices is causing concern among consumers. Against this backdrop, Ramesh Chandra spoke to G Singa Rao on various issues of the industry.
Excerpts from the interview:  Can you give an overview of the cement industry in the state?
About one-third of the country