Indian Cement Industry: Investment Opportunities

India is the second largest producer of cement in the world. No wonder, India’s cement industry is a vital part of its economy, providing employment to more than a million people, directly or indirectly. Ever since it was deregulated in 1982, the Indian cement industry has attracted huge investments, both from Indian as well as foreign investors.

- S. K. Maiti

The construction sector alone constitutes 7% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The industry occupies an important place in the Indian economy because of its strong linkages to other sectors such as construction, transportation, coal and power.

India is the second largest producer of quality cement in the world. The cement industry in India comprises of 210 large cement plants and over 365 mini cement plants. Currently, there are around 40 big players in the industry across the country. India’s cement production capacity is expected to reach 550 million tonnes by 2025. Of the total capacity, 98% lies with the private sector and the rest lies with public sector. The top 20 cement companies in India account for around 80% of the total production.

Structure of the Indian cement industry

Generally, cement industry players are divided into three categories namely pan Indian players, local players and regional players. The pan-India players enjoy around 50% of the market share. Some of the key players are Holcim, Grasim Industries, and Dalmia. They are characterised by expansion through greenfield and brownfield projects.

The regional players command around 37% of the market share. They have a strong command in their respective regions. Some of the key players are Lafarge (eastern region), India Cements (southern region), JP Associates (northern and central region) and Shree Cements (northern region). Regional players are often characterised by looking to expand in other regions.