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The Indian cement industry is on track to reach 5.09 billion tonnes by 2028-29, driven by robust government investment in infrastructure. According to an IANS report originally attributed to Infomerics Ratings, this marks a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9 per cent between 2024 and 2029. In 2022-23, the industry’s market size stood at 3.82 billion tonnes, with a total installed capacity of 622 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in FY24 and production at 427 million tonnes. Notably, India contributes over 8 per cent to the world’s total installed cement capacity, highlighting its importance in the global market. Despite this, India’s per capita cement consumption is 260 kg—significantly below the global average of 540 kg—indicating substantial room for growth. Globally, the cement market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3 per cent from 2024 to 2032. The sector’s expansion is fuelled by ambitious government initiatives, including an allocation of ₹11.11 lakh crore for infrastructure in FY25 and housing schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The construction sector consumes 55 per cent of cement production, while public infrastructure projects account for the remainder. The industry also plays a critical role in employment, providing direct jobs to over one million people and creating downstream opportunities for about 20,000 individuals per million tonnes of cement produced. Private players dominate the sector, controlling 98 per cent of production capacity, while public sector units hold a mere 2 per cent. Domestic production meets almost all demand, with imports accounting for just 0.2 per cent of total production in FY23. However, exports have declined recently due to reduced global demand and rising competition. India currently has 341 cement manufacturing facilities, including 159 integrated large cement plants, 120 grinding units, and 62 mini cement plants. Cement production has seen steady growth, with a 7.1 per cent increase in September 2024 and a cumulative growth of 1.6 per cent between April and September of FY25, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This growth aligns with India’s overall industrial performance, which saw a 2 per cent rise in core industries in September, led by cement, steel, coal, and fertilisers. As India invests heavily in infrastructure and housing, the cement industry is set to play a pivotal role in supporting the nation’s economic and developmental goals. (with IANS inputs)

India's cement industry expected to grow to 5.09 billion tonnes by 2028-29 amid infrastructure push: Report

New Delhi: <keyword id="19909974" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="maruti-suzuki" source="keywords">Maruti Suzuki</keyword> <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> is looking to sell around 6 lakh CNG vehicles in the current fiscal, an increase of around 25 per cent as compared to FY24, according to a senior company executive. The country's largest carmaker company on Wednesday expanded its CNG model range as it rolled out its premium hatchback Swift with S-CNG trims. "This fiscal we are targeting to sell around 6 lakh CNG units. We ended last year with sales of around 4.77 lakh units," <keyword id="20035105" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maruti-suzuki-india-senior" source="keywords">Maruti Suzuki India Senior</keyword> Executive Officer (Marketing and Sales) <keyword id="21102180" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="partho-banerjee" source="keywords">Partho Banerjee</keyword> told PTI in an interaction. In the April-August period this fiscal, the auto major has so far sold 2.21 lakh units, he added. The new Swift comes in three variants priced at Rs 8.19 lakh; Rs 8.46 lakh and Rs 9.19 lakh respectively. <keyword id="20068420" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="banerjee" source="keywords">Banerjee</keyword> said the S-CNG trims deliver a fuel-efficiency of 32.85 km/kg. "The company pioneered the production of CNG vehicles in India back in 2010. Since then, we have sold over 2 million S-CNG vehicles to date, contributing to a significant reduction of 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions," he added. The company now offers 14 models with CNG technology, Banerjee said. "Last fiscal year, our CNG sales in the passenger vehicle category witnessed a 46.8 per cent growth, compared to 2022-23 and registered a compound annual growth rate of around 28 per cent since 2010," he noted.

Maruti Suzuki targets to sell 6 lakh CNG units this fiscal: Official

<keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s <keyword id="19978688" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold-demand" source="keywords">gold demand</keyword> rose 8 per cent annually to 136.6 tonne in the March quarter helped by a strong <keyword id="21477327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-environment" source="keywords">economic environment</keyword> despite prices touching historic highs, according to the <keyword id="20195223" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Gold-Council" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="World Gold Council" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="World Gold Council">World Gold Council</keyword>. The aggressive gold buying by the Reserve Bank of India (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) also contributed to the rise in demand. India's gold demand in value terms rose 20 per cent on an annual basis to Rs 75,470 crore during the January-March period of this year on volume growth as well as a rise in quarterly average prices by 11 per cent. On Tuesday, the World Gold Council (WGC) released its global report 'Gold Demand Trends Q1 2024', showing that India's total gold demand, including both jewellery and investment, increased to 136.6 tonne in January-March this year from 126.3 tonne in the year-ago period. Out of the total gold demand, the jewellery demand in India increased 4 per cent to 95.5 tonne from 91.9 tonne. The total investment demand (in the form of bar, coin among others) grew 19 per cent to 41.1 tonne from 34.4 tonne. Sachin Jain, Regional CEO, India, WGC, said the rise in gold demand reaffirms Indians' enduring relationship with gold. "India's continued strong macroeconomic environment was supportive for gold jewellery consumption even though prices reached a historic high in March leading to a slowdown in sales as the quarter ended," he added. Jain expects the gold demand in India to be in the range of 700-800 tonne during this year. If the price rally continues, he said the demand could be at the lower end of this range. In 2023, the country's gold demand was 747.5 tonne. Asked about the factors driving demand growth in January-March, Jain told PTI, " Historically, eastern markets of the world including India and China respond when the prices are going down and there is a fluctuation, whereas western markets respond when the prices are going up." "For the first time we have seen a complete reversal where Indian and Chinese markets have responded to an increase in prices of gold," he said. Jain said the demand for jewellery as well as investment products like bar, coin and ETF has gone up. "The second reason for the increase in demand has been the buying by the central bank RBI," he said. While the RBI bought 16 tonne of gold in the full 2023, it has already purchased 19 tonne in the first quarter of this calendar year, Jain highlighted. He mentioned that the RBI has indicated that it would continue buying. Asked about the outlook for the April-June quarter, Jain said the demand might slow down due to a sharp rally in gold prices and the ongoing election process. As per the WGC data, India's gold demand in value terms rose 20 per cent to Rs 75,470 crore from Rs 63,090 crore. Out of this, the jewellery demand grew 15 per cent to Rs 52,750 crore from Rs 45,890 crore, while gold investment demand went up 32 per cent to Rs 22,720 crore from Rs 17,200 crore. The WGC also mentioned that the total gold recycled in India stood at 38.3 tonne in January-March, up 10 per cent from 34.8 tonne in Q1 2023. "Total gold imports in India in Q1 2024 was 179.4 tonne, up by 25 per cent compared to 143.4 tonne in Q1 2023," the Council said. The average quarterly price in Q1 2024 was Rs 55,247.20 per 10 gm of gold as against Rs 49,943.80 per 10 gm in Q1 2023 (without import duty and GST) "Q1'24 also saw healthy levels of gold bar and coin demand in India, up 19 per cent year-on-year at 41 tonne. This was on a par with Q1'22, which was itself the strongest first quarter since 2014," Jain said. The price correction in February sparked investors' interest, with anticipation of a rebound driving purchases, he added. "As the price rallied to successive record highs, investors remained bullish, contributing to the robust demand," Jain said. Investments into gold ETF too saw positive inflows of over 2 tonne. "Although Indian recycling volumes increased 10 per cent to 38.3 tonne in Q1'24, there were very few reports of distress selling. With a strong economy and expectations of a normal-to-good monsoon, there seems little desire to cash in on high gold prices at the moment," Jain said. The current high gold prices might temporarily put a strain on demand, he said. However, Jain said, "strong cultural and seasonal factors such as festivals, weddings helped by an expectation for a better monsoon and solid economic growth would support demand." SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/nothing-phone-2a-india-exclusive-blue-edition-launched-starting-at-19999/articleshow/109686243.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/nothing-phone-2a-india-exclusive-blue-edition-launched-starting-at-19999/articleshow/109686243.cms" target="_blank">Nothing Phone (2a) India-exclusive Blue Edition launched starting at ₹19,999</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/mahindra-xuv-3xo-compact-suv-launched-in-india-starting-at-7-49-lakh/slidelist/109715525.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/mahindra-xuv-3xo-compact-suv-launched-in-india-starting-at-7-49-lakh/slidelist/109715525.cms" target="_blank">Mahindra XUV 3XO compact SUV launched in India starting at ₹7.49 lakh</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-may-2024/slidelist/109682003.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-may-2024/slidelist/109682003.cms" target="_blank">Upcoming smartphones launching in India in May 2024</a>

India's gold demand up 8% in Jan-Mar to 136.6 tonne despite high rate

India's <keyword id="22879519" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="organised-gold-loan-market" source="keywords">organised gold loan market</keyword> is projected to double in the next five years to Rs 14.19 lakh crore despite expected moderation in growth due to stricter regulations, according to a <keyword id="19938520" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PwC-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="PwC India" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="PwC India">PwC India</keyword> report. In fiscal 2023-24, the organised <keyword id="21627536" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="gold-loan-market" source="keywords">gold loan market</keyword> demonstrated substantial growth, reaching a valuation of Rs 7.1 lakh crore, according to the report titled 'Striking gold: The rise of India's gold loan market' . "It is expected to reach around Rs 14.19 lakh crore by FY 2029 at a five-year CAGR of 14.85 %," it said. Indian families own massive quantities of gold, estimated at 25,000 tonne. Existing gold holdings with <keyword id="19895507" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-households" source="keywords">Indian households</keyword> are valued at roughly Rs 126 lakh crore, the report said. It further said the gold loan market is poised to see moderate growth over the next two years, as gold lenders are facing increased scrutiny from regulatory authorities regarding loan-to-value (LTV) maintenance and auction-related procedures. "The second-largest player in the gold loan market being inactive would have an impact on market growth in FY25," the report said. Also, the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>'s advisory to <keyword id="19938300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NBFCs" source="keywords">NBFCs</keyword> on cash disbursement, which limits the amount of cash disbursal to Rs 20,000, could push customers to rely on the unorganised sector. The regulator has also raised concerns about the evaluation process for lending activities through fintech startups. The increased regulatory scrutiny and revised guidelines have led to a dip in the share prices of leading NBFCs, PwC said. "Gold loan lenders are expected to use this period to ensure that they are compliant with all regulatory guidelines while undertaking several measures to optimise their middle and back offices through digitisation initiatives," it said. Lenders are also expected to implement cost optimisation initiatives that will help drive up the bottom-line profitability of their companies and enhance investor confidence which has slightly depleted as a result of the regulatory scrutiny. Furthermore, the report said rising gold prices over the past financial year may also drive lenders to take a cautious approach to lending rates and pricing as any downward movement in gold prices will result in a substantial LTV breach that will further create operational issues for lenders in the form of auctions. "The growth of the gold loan market is expected to be steered by both banks and NBFCs," the report said. The emergence of digital gold loan aggregator platforms and their strategic collaboration with gold loan lenders such as banks and NBFCs will be a key driving factor for the growth of the industry, enabling gold loan lenders to tap into a previously untapped segment of digitally savvy customers. "While the forecasted growth of the gold loan market means potential growth for all players, the impact on the players may vary. Banks are expected to benefit from their lower interest rates," PwC said. Jaikrishnan G, Partner (Financial Services), PwC India said lending against gold is the oldest form of credit. It remains one of the most attractive options for consumer as well as lenders. "High return-on-assets, manageable risk, timely regulatory interventions, growing adoption, tech-enabled operating models have all contributed to sector growth. As India embraces the vision of Viksit Bharat, gold loans will provide much needed liquidity and credit access to growing small and medium entrepreneur segments," he said. The report further said growth by NBFCs is expected to be fuelled by their expansion and increased outreach to regions with low penetration, bringing new credit customers to the financial services ecosystem. Also, fintechs will play a critical role in bringing in the required technology and innovation into the industry, thus helping lenders to create unique product propositions to boost growth, it said. <keyword id="20037818" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="South-India" source="keywords">South India</keyword> contributes to a vast extent, as it emerges as the dominant market for gold loans, with 79.1% share of the total outstanding loans. The report also noted that an assumption can be made that the entire Rs 126 lakh crore worth of gold will not be available for pledging due to various reasons like jewelry belonging to religious institutions, jewellery with emotional value, and certain jewellery held by individuals who are not in need of finance.

Gold loan market projected to double in 5 years to Rs 14.19 lakh crore, says PwC India's report

State-owned <keyword id="20039950" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Petroleum-Corporation" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bharat Petroleum Corporation" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Bharat Petroleum Corporation">Bharat Petroleum Corporation</keyword> plans to invest Rs 1.7 lakh crore over the next five years to grow its core oil refining and fuel marketing business as well as in 'future big bets' of <keyword id="20115883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="petrochemicals" source="keywords">petrochemicals</keyword> and <keyword id="19895435" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-energy" source="keywords">green energy</keyword>, its chairman G Krishnakumar has said. At present, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (<keyword id="19908646" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="BPCL" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BPCL" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="BPCL">BPCL</keyword>) owns about 14 per cent of India's oil <keyword id="20064251" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="refining-capacity" source="keywords">refining capacity</keyword> and about a quarter of the fuel retailing network. It plans to grow these businesses while foraying into newer areas. The firm is now implementing the first phase of a multi-decade aspirational journey in the form of '<keyword id="22826627" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="project-Aspire" source="keywords">Project Aspire</keyword>' - its five-year strategic framework that is based on two fundamental pillars - 'Nurturing the Core' and 'Investing in Future Big Bets', he said in the company's latest annual report. "Our mid-term strategy is on a continuum. While we remain committed to growing our core businesses, which include refining and marketing <keyword id="20037698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="petroleum-products" source="keywords">petroleum products</keyword> and upstream, we are equally focused on our big bets comprising petrochemicals, gas, green energy, non-fuel retail, and digital. "Project Aspire, with a planned capex outlay of around Rs 1.70 lakh crore over five years, will enable us to create long-term value for our stakeholders while preserving our planet for future generations," he said. "A cornerstone of our long-term strategy, Project Aspire, with a Rs 1.70 trillion investment, marks the initial phase of our multi-decade odyssey to shape the energy of tomorrow. This, coupled with our robust balance sheet, fuels our ambition to lead the <keyword id="19951336" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy-transition" source="keywords">energy transition</keyword>." The company is targeting net zero carbon emissions from its operations by 2040. "BPCL has drawn a net-zero roadmap, which encompasses renewable power, green hydrogen, compressed biogas, carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), efficiency improvement and the offsets procurements. This would require a phased capital outlay of approximately Rs 1 lakh crore till 2040, and the company is geared for the same," he said. The firm's bet on continuing investing in core businesses is based on the premise that India's booming economy will drive a 4-5 per cent annual increase in energy demand and petroleum product consumption. Also, the demand for major petrochemical products is expected to rise by 7-8 per cent annually. "This presents a strategic opportunity to expand refining capacity alongside the development of integrated petrochemical complexes," he said. BPCL is implementing new petrochemical projects at two of its three oil refineries. A Rs 49,000 crore ethylene cracker project is being implemented at the Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh, alongside raising oil refining capacity from the current 7.8 million tonnes to 11 million tonnes annually by 2029. A polypropylene project is being set up at Kochi refinery in Kerala by 2027. "To meet the anticipated demand beyond our planned expansions in Bina and Kochi, we are actively evaluating options for setting up additional integrated refining and petrochemical capacities within the next 5-7 years," Krishnakumar said without disclosing either the investments or the location of such a project. Andhra Pradesh is being speculated as the likely site after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP and regional party TDP stormed to power in the state in recently concluded assembly elections. TDP has been demanding the implementation of a refinery-cum-petrochemical complex that was promised as part of the package when the state was split more than a decade back. "Our investment in the petrochemical project is consistent with our aspiration of becoming a dominant player in India's petrochemical growth story," Krishnakumar said. On energy transition, he said BPCL is targeting to build 2 gigawatts (GW) of <keyword id="19895602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="keywords">renewable energy</keyword> capacity by 2025 and 10 GW by 2035. "We are investing nearly Rs 1,000 crore to establish two 50 MW captive wind power plants in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which will support our refineries in Mumbai and Bina." The firm is also investing around Rs 300 crore in 72 MWp of solar project in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. "Concomitantly, we are executing green hydrogen projects aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission. These projects include a 5 MW electrolyser plant at Bina refinery and a green hydrogen refuelling station with an indigenously developed electrolyser at Kochi," he noted. BPCL, he said, is committed to supporting the transition to electric mobility through a robust and accessible charging infrastructure. The company has installed over 3,000 charging stations, including fast chargers for cars and two-wheelers. 900 fast chargers are installed across 120 highway corridors, which helps address the range, discovery and time anxiety of electric vehicle (EV) owners. "Over the next five years, we aim to install 4-wheeler fast chargers at approximately 6,000 retail outlets across 400 highway corridors, prioritising high-traffic corridors like the Golden Quadrilateral and N-S/E-W highways," he said. On biofuels, he said BPCL sells petrol with 20 per cent ethanol blend at 4,279 out of its over 22,000 petrol pumps. It is also building compressed biogas plants using municipal solid waste to make gas that can be used as CNG in automobiles. The firm is also exploring partnerships in the arena. "These combined efforts, along with the upcoming commissioning of a bio-ethanol refinery, positions BPCL as a key player in India's transition to a greener fuel mix, creating a robust ecosystem for the adoption of cleaner fuels across the country," he added. BPCL is establishing a corporate venture capital fund to invest directly in promising startups. "In order to thrive in this complex and challenging business landscape, we will leverage our agility and focus on operational excellence to ensure continued success. Safety and reliability will remain our top priorities, guiding all our actions. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance," he added. He said the energy sector of India stands at an inflection point. "The nation has an ambitious vision of becoming a USD 30 trillion developed economy by 2047. 'Viksit Bharat @2047' will necessitate an almost fourfold increase in primary energy demand." India's exponential growth trajectory will propel it to a pivotal role in the global energy market, accounting for roughly 12 per cent of world energy consumption by 2047. "The key strategic objectives for India in the energy sector will entail significant expansion in refining capacities, raising the share of gas in the energy basket from about 6 per cent to 15 per cent, establishing leadership in petrochemical exports, and sharply reducing energy imports from current levels of 47 per cent to below 25 per cent by 2030 and to zero by 2047," he said. India is targeting 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity, sourcing half of its energy needs from renewables, reducing carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes and lowering carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 with the ultimate goal of net-zero emissions by 2070. "Building on its strong Indian energy presence, BPCL aspires to meet 7-10 per cent of the nation's primary energy demand by 2047," he said.

BPCL planning Rs 1.7 lakh crore spend to expand core business, new energy foray over next five years

New Delhi, The Centre on Tuesday announced sale of an additional 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in the open market to further bring down the retail prices of wheat and wheat flour (atta) and asked flour millers to cut rates with softening in wholesale price of grain. On January 25, the Centre had announced sale of 30 lakh tonnes of wheat in the open market from its buffer stock to check rise in prices of wheat and wheat flour (atta). According to an official statement, the government has decided that state-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) will offload an additional quantity of 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in open market under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). The stocks will be sold through e-auction to flour mills/private traders/bulk buyers/manufactures of wheat products. The proposal to sell stocks in the open market was taken by a group of ministers, sources said. "So far, 50 lakh tonnes (30+20 lakh tonnes) of wheat have been decided to be offloaded under the OMSS. The reduction in reserve price along with additional offloading of 20 lakh tonnes of wheat will collectively help in reducing market price of wheat and wheat products for consumers," the statement said. Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra held a video conference meeting with Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the representatives of flour millers/associations/ federations/atta, suji product manufacturers on to review the lifting of stocks in the second round of e-auction held recently. Flour millers were advised to bring down the prices of atta and other products in line with the reduction in market prices of wheat, the statement said. After announcement of the OMSS policy, the food ministry said that prices of wheat and atta have come down but still inflation figure for January 2023 was at 3 months high of 6.52 per cent. As per the government data, the average prices of wheat across major cities stood at Rs 33.15 per kilogram on Monday, while the average prices of atta (wheat flour) stood at Rs 37.63 per kg. Last month, the government announced plans to sell 30 lakh tonnes of wheat in the open market from its buffer stock under the OMSS. Out of the 30 lakh tonnes, the FCI is selling 25 lakh tonnes to bulk consumers like flour millers through e-auction and 2 lakh tonnes to states/Union Territories. Three lakh tonnes of wheat are being provided to institutions and state-PSUs at a concession for converting wheat into wheat flour. In the two rounds of e-auctions for bulk consumers, nearly 13 lakh tonnes wheat have been sold. FCI will offer 11.72 lakh tonnes of wheat during the third e-auction to be held on February 22. Last week, the ministry reduced reserve price of fair and average (FAQ) quality wheat to Rs 2,150 per quintal, while for Under Relaxed Specifications (URS) wheat to Rs 2,125 per quintal. These new reserve prices are applicable from the third sale of wheat through e-auction. Moreover, the rate of wheat has been reduced to Rs 21.50 per kg for sale to NCCF/NAFED/ Kendriya Bhandar/state government cooperatives/federations as well as community kitchen /charitable/NGO etc. for converting wheat into atta and then selling to consumers at Rs 27.50 per kg. To control price, the Centre had banned wheat exports in May last year. India's wheat production fell to 107.74 million tonnes in the 2021-22 crop year (July-June) from 109.59 million tonnes in the previous year due to heat waves in a few growing states. The procurement fell sharply to 19 million tonnes this year from around 43 million tonnes last year. Wheat production is estimated to rise at 112.18 million tonnes in the current 2022-23 crop year on higher acreage and better yield. However, the rise in temperature during this month in key producing states has again become a concern for the farm scientist and policy makers. On Monday, the government formed a committee to monitor the situation arising out of any unusual rise in temperature and its impact on the wheat crop and issue necessary advisories to the farming community to save the crop. The move comes as some parts of the country have started witnessing above-normal temperatures. In the first week of February, the maximum temperature in major wheat growing areas, barring Madhya Pradesh, remained higher than the average of the last seven years, as per the National Crop Forecast Centre (NCFC).

Centre to sell 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in open market from buffer stock to cool prices of atta

Around 502 <keyword id="6374174" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugar-mills">sugar mills</keyword> of the country together produced 233.77 <keyword id="9324380" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="lakh-tonnes">lakh tonnes</keyword> of <keyword id="31653" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugar">sugar</keyword> in the early five months of the current sugar season 2020-21 as compared to 194.82 lakh tonnes produced by 453 mills last season till February 29, 2020, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said on Wednesday. Sugar production in the ongoing season 2020-21 (October-September) has increased by 38.95 lakh tonnes or 19.99 per cent from <keyword id="1799114" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="last-year">last year</keyword>. The largest quantity of sugar has been produced in <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> so far in the ongoing season as sugar production in the state has surged over 67 per cent as compared to last year. Sugar mills of Maharashtra produced 84.85 lakh tonnes of the sweetener till February 28 this year, compared with 50.70 lakh tonnes produced last year same period. Out of 188 sugar mills operated in the state in the current season, 12 sugar mills have ended their crushing due to non-availability of cane in their area, most of them in Solapur region while 25 sugar mills had ended their operations. As on February 28 2021, 176 sugar mills were crushing as against 120 sugar mills last year on February 29, 2020 in Maharashtra. In Uttar Pradesh, 109 sugar mills are in operation currently, while 11 mills have stopped their crushing operations, most of them in Eastern Uttar Pradesh region. These mills in the state have produced 74.20 lakh tones of sugar till February 28, 2021, compared with 76.86 lakh tonnes produced by 119 mills as on February 29, 2020. In case of Karnataka, till February 28, 2021, 66 sugar mills operated in the current season and have produced 40.53 lakh tones, as compared to 32.60 lakh tones produced by 63 sugar mills which operated last year, till February 29, 2020. During the current season, out of 66 mills which operated, 52 mills have already ended their crushing. Last year in the same period, out of 63 sugar mills which operated, 34 sugar mills had ended their crushing operations by Feb 29, 2020. Gujarat has produced 7.49 lakh tones of sugar till February 28, 2021. Out of 15 sugar mills operated this year, one sugar mill has ended its operation. Last year, similar number of sugar mills were in operation and they had produced 6.83 lakh tonnes of sugar till February 29, 2020. In case of <keyword id="20154" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, 26 sugar mills commenced their crushing operations so far for 2020-21 SS and have produced 3.16 lakh tonnes of sugar, as compared to 3.37 lakh tonnes produced by 21 sugar mills in 2019-20. The remaining states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Uttarakhand, <keyword id="6354953" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="punjab">Punjab</keyword>, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Odisha have collectively produced 23.54 lakh tonnes of sugar till February 28, 2021. During 2020-21, from 1st October 2020 to 28th February 2021, 502 sugar mills had started operations (as against 453 sugar mills which had operated last year till 29th February, 2020). Also, 98 sugar mills across the country have ended their operations by 28th February 2021. Last year, 70 sugar mills had closed their crushing operations as on 29th February, 2020, said ISMA. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/nokia-power-earbuds-lite-review-missed-opportunity/articleshow/81304603.cms">Nokia Power Earbuds Lite review – missed opportunity</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/india-largest-insurer-lic-is-inviting-bids-from-payment-aggregators/articleshow/81304375.cms">EXCLUSIVE: India's largest insurer LIC is inviting bids from payment aggregators⁠</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/the-600-crore-ipo-of-defence-components-maker-mtar-technologies-is-off-to-a-great-start-today/articleshow/81306780.cms">Former Blackstone exec’s firm MTAR Tech’s ₹600 crore IPO⁠ — what works for it and what doesn't</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indian-companies-stand-to-lose-7-14-lakh-crore-to-climate-change-but-they-could-end-up-making-2-9-lakh-crore-too/articleshow/81306789.cms">Indian companies stand to lose ₹7.14 lakh crore to climate change — but they could end up making ₹2.9 lakh crore too</a>

Maharashtra’s sugar production jumps 67% helping India hit 23.3 million tonnes of output

The Supertech <keyword id="396781" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="twin-towers" source="Orion">Twin Towers</keyword> in Noida were blown to bits earlier this week. It collapsed to the ground within 12 seconds like a house of cards and turned into rubble. But its story doesn’t end there. <div type="image" title="The Supertech Twin Towers in Noida were blown to bits earlier this week" msid="93936515" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Supertech Twin Towers in Noida were blown to bits earlier this week&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> As India saw its largest <keyword id="6367653" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="demolition" source="Orion">demolition</keyword> to date, a sea of dust enveloped the neighbourhood as the mangled iron dropped to the ground. The <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1563814230070947840">demolition</a> followed an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/two-high-rise-apartment-buildings-that-were-constructed-illegally-have-been-blown-up-by-authorities-in-india/articleshow/93838929.cms">order </a>from the Supreme Court last year after a lengthy legal battle. The towers were found to have violated multiple building regulations and fire safety norms. The nearly 100-metre-high Twin Towers, taller than the city’s Qutub Minar, stood tall in the Emerald court compound for years and it has now left behind<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/families-near-indian-skyscraper-demolition-site-vacate-homes-2022-08-28/"> 80,000</a> tonnes of <keyword id="44114" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debris" source="Orion">debris</keyword> for the authorities to deal with. <div type="image" title="The towers were found to have violated multiple building regulations and fire safety norms" msid="93936523" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The towers were found to have violated multiple building regulations and fire safety norms&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> How vast is the sea of debris? The unoccupied Apex and Ceyane towers with 32 and 29 storeys respectively turned into 35,000 cubic metres of rubble, approximately 80,000 tonnes. Before the big blast, all walls and brickwork had been removed, leaving only the concrete exterior. The two towers had 915 flats in total and Supertech stood to have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/two-high-rise-apartment-buildings-that-were-constructed-illegally-have-been-blown-up-by-authorities-in-india/articleshow/93838929.cms">made </a>₹1,200 crore if all were sold. What happens to the leftovers? As per the <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-has-joined-100-metre-building-demolition-club-foreign-brain-behind-noida-twin-tower-success-3295459">Edifice’s debris management plan</a>, around 50,000 tonnes of the debris has been absorbed in the basements of the erstwhile towers and the remaining of it would be disposed of in 90 days. Some of it will be reused and recycled. As per media <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/two-high-rise-apartment-buildings-that-were-constructed-illegally-have-been-blown-up-by-authorities-in-india/articleshow/93838929.cms">reports</a>, the demolition cost ₹20 crore, a quarter of which will be borne by builders Supertech. Not only did the demolition need a huge investment, but it would also affect the environment. Aftermath of <keyword id="12258952" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twin-Towers-demolition" source="Orion">Twin Towers demolition</keyword>: High water consumption and air pollution The Ramky group has started the cleaning work to remove the dust and soil accumulated on the ground. Over <a href="https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2022-08-30-45-lakh-litres-water-used-after-noida-twin-tower-demolition">450 tankers of water </a>have been used to make neighbouring <keyword id="4838195" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="supertech-emerald" source="Orion">Supertech Emerald</keyword> and ATS societies dust-free. Approximately 45 lakh litres of water has been <a href="https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2022-08-30-45-lakh-litres-water-used-after-noida-twin-tower-demolition">sprayed </a>to control the dust with anti-smog guns. The dust has gathered on trees, windowpanes and roads. If the cleaning work is delayed, this dust could <a href="https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2022-08-30-45-lakh-litres-water-used-after-noida-twin-tower-demolition">lead </a>to eye irritation, respiratory problems and skin diseases. The Indian authorities used 3,700 kilos or 8,100 pounds of<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/two-high-rise-apartment-buildings-that-were-constructed-illegally-have-been-blown-up-by-authorities-in-india/articleshow/93838929.cms"> explosives</a> that included solar coal, electric detonators, shock tubes and emulsions. The gunpowder used in this blast, and cement particles are also scattered in the air. As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in Delhi, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/construction-dust-open-waste-dumping-top-polluting-activities/articleshow/67445201.cms">construction </a>dust is a top polluter. After the demolition of the Twin Towers, on August 28, Noida’s air quality was marked in yellow, which means it was of poor quality that caused breathing discomfort to people with lungs, heart diseases and asthma. As per the report, very small particles found in dust and smoke (PM10), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were the prominent pollutants in Noida. <div type="image" title="Air Quality Index in Noida after Twin Towers demolition" msid="93936580" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Air Quality Index in Noida after Twin Towers demolition &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> What are India’s rules on construction and demolition waste management? Inadequately managed waste disposal can affect the environment. In a bid to repurpose urban waste, the <a href="https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=TGF0ZXN0RmlsZS8xNTlfMTQ5NTQ0NjM5N19tZWRpYXBob3RvMTkyLnBkZg">Centre </a>released rules and regulations to handle construction and demolition waste in 2016. As per the <a href="https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=TGF0ZXN0RmlsZS8xNTlfMTQ5NTQ0NjM5N19tZWRpYXBob3RvMTkyLnBkZg">Construction and Demolition</a> (C &amp; D) Waste Management Rules, 2016, authorities are required to use recycled products in the best possible manner and make provision for giving incentives for use of material made out of construction and demolition waste in the construction activity including in non-structural concrete, paving blocks, lower layers of road pavements, colony and rural roads. <a href="https://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=d2FzdGUvQyZEX3J1bGVzXzIwMTYucGRm">CPCB </a>norms include segregating construction debris into steel, concrete and iron and depositing it at a collection centre, a ban on dumping them in the open or on the road, and the mandatory use of water sprinklers to suppress dust and, thereby, pollution. Every waste generator is <a href="https://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=d2FzdGUvQyZEX3J1bGVzXzIwMTYucGRm">required </a>to pay relevant charges for collection, transportation, processing and disposal as notified by the concerned authorities. After segregation, the waste is to be deposited at the collection centre and/or to be handed to an authorised processing facility. The authorities are required to ensure that there’s no littering on roads that could cause traffic. The waste is not to be burned, buried or thrown into drains or water bodies. What happens next? Of the 80,000 tonnes of construction waste left behind by the Twin Towers, 30,000 will be removed and recycled. The remaining 50,000 tonnes will be used to lay the foundation of the proposed <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/where-twin-towers-stood-a-sprawling-garden-next/articleshow/93843931.cms">garden</a>. However, it won’t be until the next four months that the residents of Emerald court will get to see green pastures in the place of a giant grey rubble. Here's a small video <div type="image" title="Simply Put: What happens to the Twin Towers’ 80,000 tonnes of debris?" msid="93936592" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Simply Put: What happens to the Twin Towers&amp;#8217; 80,000 tonnes of debris? &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

SIMPLY PUT: What happens to the Twin Towers’ 80,000 tonnes of debris?

New Delhi, Mar 26 () Sugar mills can sell 18 lakh tonnes of sugar in the open market during April, a Food Ministry notification said on Thursday. As per the notification, 545 mills have been allocated 18 lakh tonnes of sugar for sale in the next month. The quota was same in the year-ago period. India's sugar output is pegged 18 per cent down at 27.3 million tonnes in the ongoing 2019-20 season (October-September) on fall in sugarcane output in key growing states. Mills have produced more than 20 million tonnes till now. LUX ANSANS

Govt fixes sugar sale quota of 18 lakh tonnes for April

New Delhi, Mar 8 () State-owned Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) is in talks with the Indian Railways for an order to supply about 15.5 lakh tonnes of rail in the next financial year, a company official said. SAIL, under the steel ministry, is the country's largest steel-making company and as per an agreement, it supplies rails to Indian Railways. The Indian Railways had placed an order with SAIL for supply of 13.5 lakh tonne rails in the current financial year. Till February 29, the company produced 11.65 lakh tonne rails, according to SAIL. On asked about the Railways' order for 2020-21, the official said the company expects an order of 15.5 lakh tonne rails in the next financial year for which it is in talks with the Railways. A source said that generally, the Railways places its order by the last week of March or in the first week of April. Replying to an e-mail query sent to SAIL, the company said that "it has not received the order for rails for the financial year 2020-21 from the Indian Railways yet. However, SAIL is geared up to fulfil any order, which will be placed by the Indian Railways". According to official data, in 2018-19, SAIL supplied 9.68 lakh tonnes of rails as against the demand of about 14 lakh tonnes. In the previous year, the public sector undertaking supplied 8.74 lakh tonnes as against the demand of 11.4 lakh tonnes. During 2016-17, SAIL supplied 6.20 lakh tonnes as against the Railways' requirement of 10.05 lakh tonnes. In the preceding financial year, the steel maker supplied 6.46 lakh tonnes against the order of 8.12 lakh tonne. Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had earlier said that as part of the modernisation and expansion plan of SAIL, a 1.2-MTPA (million tonnes per annum) universal rail mill has been installed at the Bhilai plant to enhance the manufacturing capabilities of rails to cope with the increasing demand of Railways. ABI HRS

SAIL, Railways in talks for 15.5 lakh tonne rail order

New Delhi, Jan 7 () Coffee exports from India rose marginally to 3.50 lakh tonne in 2019 as compared to 3.48 lakh tonne in the previous year, according to the Coffee Board.
 India is the third-largest producer and exporter of coffee in Asia.
 Italy, Germany and Russia were the major export destinations for Indian coffee last year. India ships both Robusta and Arabica varieties, besides instant coffee.
 Robusta coffee exports rose 4.10 per cent to 1,86,360 tonne in 2019 from 1,79,004 tonne in 2018, the Board data showed.
 Export of Arabica coffee however declined 10.75 per cent to 47,341.82 tonne from 53,049 tonne in 2018.
 The outbound shipment of instant coffee fell to 27,339 tonne in 2019 from 29,146 tonne in the previous year, the data showed.
 Of the total coffee exports, India exported 72,267 tonne to Italy, 37,175 tonne to Germany and 28,573 tonne to Russia last year.
 Some of the major exporting companies include CCL Products India, Tata Coffee, NKG India Coffee, Allanasons Pvt Ltd, Olam Agro and Coffee Day Global Ltd.
 Coffee production is estimated to be slightly higher at 3,19,500 tonne for the 2018-19 crop year (October-September), as per the post monsoon forecast by the Board. LUX ANU

Coffee exports in 2019 up marginally at 3.50 lakh tonne

New Delhi, Nov 20 () The Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to the Food Ministry's recent decision to import 1.2 lakh tonnes of onions in a bid to improve the domestic availability of the key kitchen staple and check prices.
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed about the decision at a media briefing after the Cabinet meeting.
 On November 16, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had announced that the government will import 1,00,000 tonnes of onions through state-run MMTC, which has already floated a tender for buying 4,000 tonnes of the commodity from the global market.
 The government is also facilitating private imports and also relaxed phytosanitary and fumigation norms till December.
 The move comes after the government's various efforts to boost the domestic availability failed to cool down the retail prices significantly. Retail prices of onions are continuing to rule above Rs 60/kg in the national capital and other consuming centres.
 Onion prices have come under pressure due to 26 per cent fall in the production to 52.06 lakh tonnes during the kharif output late-kharif seasons of 2019-20.
 The all-India average retail price of onion stood at Rs 60.38 per kg on November 15, compared with Rs 22.84 per kg on the same date last year.
 Besides easing norms for onion import, the government has taken several measures including ban on exports, stock limits on traders and sale of the commodity stored as buffer, at a subsidised rate. LUX NKD CS MKJ

Cabinet approves import of 1.2 lakh tonnes onion: FM

New Delhi, Dec 13 () Vegetable oil imports fell marginally to 11.28 lakh tonne in November due to decline in inward shipments of non-edible oil, according to Solvent Extractors' Association. 
Out of the total vegetable oil import, the shipments of edible oil rose to 10,97,424 tonne in November 2019 from 10,73,353 tonne in the same month last year.
Non-edible oils import, however, fell to 30,796 tonne compared to 60,450 tonne in the year-ago period, SEA said in a statement.
"Import of vegetable oils during November 2019 is reported at 11,28,220 tonne compared to 11,33,893 tonne in November, 2018," the statement said.
Oil year runs from November to October. 
Import of refined palm oil drastically reduced following the imposition of 5 per cent safeguard duty on shipments from Malaysia with effect from September 4, 2019. 
The import of refined palm oil stood at 2.57 lakh tonne in August and 2.64 lakh tonne in September. However, shipments reduced to 1.18 lakh tonne in October and stood at 1.22 lakh tonne in November.
During November 2019, import of refined oil (RBD Palmolein) increased to 1,24,909 tonne from 1,08,911 tonne in November 2018. Import of crude oil increased to 9,75,015 tonne from 9,64,442 tonne in November 2018.
India's vegetable oil imports increased 3.5 per cent to 155.5 lakh tonne in 2018-19 marketing year, due to increase in inward shipments of refined oils. MJH ANU

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