India: Leading cement producers have broadly reported ‘strong’ performances in the three months to 30 June 2025, driven by increased government spending on key infrastructure projects. They expect their bottom lines to continue to rise in the rest of the 2026 financial year (FY2026), which ends on 31 March 2026, with coal and petcoke prices expected to remain at a lower level than in FY2025.

UltraTech Cement reported 10% growth in its cement sales volumes in the first quarter of FY2026, to 36.8Mt, helped by acquisitions of India Cements and the cement business of Kesoram Industries. Adani Group subsidiary Ambuja Cements also reported its highest-ever sales volumes, of 18.4Mt. Birla Corporation’s sales volumes rose by 9% per cent to 4.8Mt, while Nirma Group subsidiary Nuvoco Vistas reported sales volumes of 5.1Mt.

However, some companies, including Shree Cement, saw their volumes decline due to geopolitical tensions in the North of India. Dalmia Bharat's sales volumes fell by 6% to 7.4Mt, impacted by the discontinuation of tolling volumes from Jaypee Cement, while Ramco Cements reported a 7% decline due to early monsoon rains in Kerala.

In the near-term future, demand is expected to be flat in the second quarter of FY2026 due to the monsoon season. However, companies anticipate growth in the third and fourth quarters of the year, with volumes growth of around 7% anticipated across the whole of FY2026.