India: Ambuja Cement’s net profit has risen by 29% year-on-year to US$105m in the first six months of 2015 from US$81m in the same period in 2015. Its sales revenue rose slightly to US$745m. Cement sales volumes fell by 2% in the second quarter of 2016 to 5.76Mt from 5.88Mt in the same period in 2015. This reduced the net sales revenue reported in the quarter despite increased prices.
The subsidiary of LafargeHolcim also reported that its energy cost fell by 27% in the second quarter of 2016 due to low fuel prices and an increased usage of petcoke in its kilns, to 60% from 45% year-on-year. Various cost optimisation initiatives also contributed to reduced freight costs.
