Latest news with #industry players
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Cement sector to see tepid Q2FY26 volumes, price gains offer relief: Report
New Delhi: India's cement sector is expected to witness subdued volume growth in the second quarter of Financial Year 2026 (Q2FY26) due to seasonal weakness, but improving realisations are offering a silver lining, said a report by Nuvama. The report added that while operating deleverage and higher expenses may pressure margins, softening fuel prices and ongoing cost-efficiency measures by industry players are likely to cushion the impact. "We believe Q2FY26 will witness subdued volume growth on account of a seasonally weak quarter; however, improving realisations have brought cheer to the industry. The sequential dip in realisation and other expenses being higher on account of operating deleverage shall be somewhat negated by softening fuel prices (lag effect) and various cost efficiency measures undertaken by players," the report added. The cement industry showed signs of recovery in the first quarter of FY26, with 15 major companies reporting around 7 per cent growth in sales volumes compared to last year (though volumes were down 11 per cent from the previous quarter). This growth was mainly driven by increased government spending on infrastructure. Ambuja Cement (including its recent acquisitions) and JK Cement led the pack with over 14 per cent volume growth year-on-year. Prices also improved in southern and eastern regions, pushing up the average selling price by about 5 per cent compared to the previous quarter, even though it was slightly lower than the same period last year. Meanwhile, raw material costs dropped by 5 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 15 per cent year-on-year, mainly due to better inventory management. As a result, the industry's profit per tonne (EBITDA/t) improved by 10 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 26 per cent year-on-year, reaching Rs 1,140 per tonne. Looking ahead, the report added that the monsoon season (Q2FY26) is typically a slow period for construction, so sales may dip. The report further added that the falling fuel costs are expected to help maintain profitability. In August current year, cement prices remained flat compared to the previous month but were stronger on a year-on-year basis. The monsoon season slowed down construction activity, particularly in rural areas and infrastructure projects, leading to weaker offtake and limiting companies' ability to raise or sustain prices. Region-wise, demand in the eastern market fell sharply due to early rains, though prices remained steady at Rs 353 per bag. In the southern region, prices increased by Rs 10 per bag despite the monsoon.
Free Malaysia Today
22-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysia's tourist arrivals up 20% from Jan to May, says ministry
Malaysia recorded over 25 million international tourist arrivals in 2024. KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia recorded 16.9 million international tourist arrivals from January to May this year, a 20% increase from the same period of 2024, the tourism, arts and culture ministry said. About half of Malaysia's total international tourist arrivals during the first five months of the year were from neighbouring Singapore with 8.34 million visitors, followed by Indonesia at 1.82 million, China at 1.81 million, and Thailand at 1.06 million, the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply yesterday. 'Arrivals from 'long-haul markets' such as Australia and the UK also saw increases of 16.6% and 8.7% respectively, compared to the same period in 2024,' the ministry added. 'This increase in foreign visitor numbers clearly reflects the effectiveness of various initiatives implemented by the government through strategic approaches, progressive policies such as the visa liberalisation plan, and support and incentives given to industry players,' the ministry said. The Southeast Asian country recorded just over 25 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, falling short of its 27.3 million target. 'Malaysia is targeting 47 million international tourist arrivals in 2026, with a focus on key markets such as Central Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Oceania,' the ministry said.
