| Though none of the companies Business Standard spoke to confirmed the move, cement dealers in Mumbai said top cement-makers had raised prices by Rs 4 in the city. |
| According to unconfirmed reports, North India has seen a Rs 3 hike. A Delhi-based dealer said the companies had told him that the price would go up by Rs 5 a bag in a day or two. |
| "The companies raised wholesale prices and we passed on the burden to consumers," said a Mumbai-based dealer who did not want to be named. The present retail price in Mumbai is Rs 274 per bag. Market sources said Chennai had seen a hike of Rs 3. |
| It was felt some months ago that cement prices were heading for stability but higher input costs, mainly of coal (an important ingredient in producing cement), left the companies with no option, said experts. |
| Two days ago, major cement-makers had indicated that increasing input costs were leaving them with few options. The hike was imminent considering the high demand, analysts said. |
| Sources in north-based cement companies said since April 2007, the input cost per bag had risen by Rs 17. However, the price hike since then had been only Rs 11 per bag, they said. |
| The demand for cement is at its peak between February and monsoon. A majority of cement plants in the country are running at full capacity. |
| The expected new capacities could not come in FY08 which also pressure on cement-makers, sources said. The demand for the commodity is growing at over 10 per cent. |
| The total capacity of the domestic cement industry is 174 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). It was 166 mtpa last year. |
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