Along with food and beverages, the prices of building materials are also rising. Cement prices increased by ₹7 per bag in September. There's no sign of relief in October either.
Cement prices jump
Cement prices have begun to rise, and the upcoming month of October may see further increases. It is believed that cement companies may increase prices by ₹5-₹20 per bag in October. Further price increases are likely in October, once the monsoon season ends and construction activity picks up again.
However, according to a report by Centrum Broking, how long this increase in prices will last depends on how much the demand increases and whether the dealers are ready to accept the increased prices.
Break on construction from December
The cement companies' decision to increase rates comes just before the Delhi government's ban on construction between November 1, 2026, and January 31, 2027. Pollution levels increase significantly during the winter season .
Due to this, a complete ban on construction work will be imposed for 42 days, from December 10 to January 20. This will put a halt to ongoing construction in Delhi-NCR, significantly reducing the demand for cement.
It will be interesting to see how cement companies implement this price increase. It's possible that instead of raising prices, companies may be forced to cut prices or offer discounts during the restrictions.
How much did the price increase in September?
According to a Centrum report, rising fuel costs have forced cement companies to raise prices in recent weeks. However, this increase will be entirely dependent on demand. Cement prices remained relatively unchanged over the past two months, but they increased in September.
After remaining relatively stable in July and August, the average trade price across the country increased by ₹7 per bag to ₹356 in September. Centrum's analysis revealed that prices increased in both the trade and non-trade segments during the month. In most markets, the non-trade segment saw the largest price increases, where companies sell to large builders or contractors rather than small customers.
