Investors should remain upbeat on cement sector; price hike is a positive

Consider companies that can grow their market share and lower cost per tonne

The cement sector may be looking at better realisations and higher volume offtake going by the trends of the October-December quarter of the 2022-23 financial year (Q3FY23), a recent price hike, and the promise of a continued infrastructure thrust in FY24.

In Q3, revenues rose by an aggregate of 17 per cent year-on-year (YoY), but Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) per tonne, fell by 14 per cent YoY while profit after tax (PAT) rose by 23 per cent YoY.

Expenses were up 30 per cent per tonne YoY -- power and fuel costs in particular -- and