India's cement sales increased by nearly 8 per cent in February to 13.71 million

RELATED ARTICLES India sees business opportunity in Iran after US, EU sanctions Coke posts 20% volume growth in India in Q4, 2011 Iran agrees on part payment in rupees for crude sale to India Iran agrees on part payment in rupees for crude sale to India India says it's always appreciative of foreign aid

tonnes over the same month last year on increased demand from realty and construction sectors.

The country's cement production grew by over 9.5 per cent in February to 13.91 million tonnes, going by the Cement Manufacturers' Association data, the apex body of the industry.

Cement production and sales were 12.7 million tonnes and 12.72 tonnes, respectively, in February 2009, the association said.

However, cement production and sales in February fell when compared with January this year. In the first month of the current year, production was at 14.57 million tonnes and sales at 14.52 million tonnes.

Cumulative production of the Indian cement manufacturers during the April-February period of the current fiscal went up to 144.6 million tonnes as compared to 128.22 million tonnes in the same period last fiscal.

Sales also zoomed to 143.67 million tonnes in the first 11 month of the current fiscal as against 127.79 million tonnes in the corresponding period last fiscal.

"Almost all leading players recorded higher sales in February this year mainly on the increased demand from the realty and construction sectors," an industry observer said.