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Cement sales up 12.7% in January
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 4: India's cement output in January 2000 rose 11.6 per cent at nearly 8.54 million tonnes (mt) from 7.65 million tonnesIn the same month last year, according to the provisional figures of the Cement Manufacturers' Association (CMA), the sales in January this year surged 12.7 per cent to 8.62 mt from 7.65 mt in the same month 1999, a CMA official told UNI. In April-January of the current fiscal, cement sales were up 16.4 per cent at nearly 76.24 mt from 65.52 mt in 1998-99.On the other hand, cement output was up 16.5 per cent at 76.34 mt from 65.51 mt in the ten-month period under review. January 2000 cement sales and output have increased over that of December 1999. In December, sales stood at 8.19 million tonnes while the output was 8.04 million tonnes. The nine-month cement sales were up 16.87 per cent and output up by 17.2 per cent on year. At the beginning of the current fiscal, CMA, the apex body of the cement sector, had estimated a 10-12 per cent growth in cement output and sales. Even though its estimates have been pulled by the surging demand in the housing sector, CMA continues to rue about the low prices of the construction commodity. Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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