The output of India’s core industries increased by 4.5% y/y in February 2014, an improvement on the 1.6% y/y growth experienced in January. The sectors that are considered to be core industries are cement, coal, steel, electricity, natural gas, crude oil, fertilisers and petroleum refinery products.
Cement production grew by 2.3% y/y in February compared to 1.5% y/y in January. Refinery products, electricity generation and steel production also picked up, rising by 3.2%, 10.4% and 4.8%, respectively. After falling by 0.7% y/y in the first month of 2014, coal output was up 0.1% y/y in February.
Only two of the core sectors saw a decline in output in February – natural gas (-4.4% y/y) and fertiliser production (-0.7% y/y). However, natural gas dropped by 5.2% in January 2014 so the February figure represents a softening in decline.
Production of grey cement increased by 10.2% y/y in Colombia, according to statistics released by DANE. Domestic sales volumes also improved by 11.7% y/y during the month.
Singha Cement’s state-of-the-art cement terminal is due for completion next year and Tokyo Cement undertakes a new environmental project to protect the Sri Lankan marine life.
India’s Emami Cement Ltd, a newcomer to the cement industry, has placed an order with Gebr. Pfeiffer SE and its Indian subsidiary for four MVR mills and an MPS mill for coal grinding.
Ambuja Cements Ltd received the first runner up award at the Assocham CSR Excellence Awards, held during the 6th Global Corporate Social Responsibility Summit in New Delhi.