Cement prices that have been firming up in the past few months are expected to increase further across India beginning next year as demand continues to outstrip supply.
While cement prices in the south is expected to go up anywhere between Rs 3 to Rs 5 a bag from January 2008, in the Northern markets too prices are likely to harden from next year.
Currently, the prices are ruling between Rs 245 to Rs 255 a bag in markets in South India. In South India, the prices have slightly gone up by Rs 2 to Rs 3 a bag now, as compared to a few months back, with end of monsoon. This is largely due to construction activity picking up in post-monsoon period.
While in Mumbai cement price has increased by Rs 5 to Rs 260 in November, in Delhi it has stayed around Rs 225-230 a bag.