India: The South India Cement Manufacturers’ Association (SICMA) has assured the public that it is collaborating with the Tamil Nadu government to implement concessionary cement prices for lower income homebuilders. The Business Standard has reported that the association and government aim to keep cement available to all. Domestic cement production capacity utilisation has been reported as low as 60% during the second wave of Covid-19 in the country with a 35% month-on-month production drop in April 2021. Increased input costs caused a price rise in the first quarter of the 2022 financial year. Cement prices are reportedly forecast to remain high in the medium term.
