Cement price hikes in April ease margin fears, for now

Cement makers have entered FY26 on a firm footing, aided by price hikes in April, according to dealer channel checks by various brokerages.

- Harsha Jethmalani

Cement makers have entered FY26 on a firm footing, aided by price hikes in April, according to dealer channel checks by various brokerages. The all-India average cement price rose to ₹357 per bag in April, up from ₹338 in March, as per Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

Regionally, prices rose by an average ₹40 a bag month-on-month in the south and by ₹20 in the east. In the north, west, and central regions, the hike ranged ₹8 to ₹15 per bag. If these price hikes sustain, they could lift profitability across the sector. That's when the costs of key inputs such as imported petroleum coke and coal have edged higher, stoking concerns about margin pressure.