The country’s cement sales in April are expected to clock-in at 3.8 to 4.1mn tons, down by 17-23 percent MoM but up by 45 to 55 percent YoY. The Local cement sales are likely to decline by 17-21 percent MoM due to long Eid holidays (7-8days), wherein four days local sales were zero and in 2-3 days sales in the North region were just 10-20k tons/day compared to normal sales of 120-130k tons/day. Shankar Talreja, a research analyst at Topline Securities, said that exports during the month are likely to clock in at 0.7mn tons, down 26% MoM. “Sales growth YoY is abnormally high as May was hit by COVID-19 led lockdowns,” Talreja said. The research analyst maintained that during 11MFY21, sales are expected at around 51-53mn tons, up by 20-22 percent YoY. Capacity utilization based on local demand is expected to touch 58 percent in May, wherein in the North the same is expected to be around 66 percent. Total capacity utilization (including exports) is expected to touch 70 percent. Talreja added that during 11MFY21, based on total sales, capacity utilization is expected to clock in at 84 percent wherein based on local sales the same is likely to be around 70 percent. Cement retail prices during May have averaged at Rs604 per bag in North, unchanged from April. In South, retail prices also remained same in the range of Rs634-637 per bag in May-2021. Cement prices have increased in the North region w.e.f. from May 29, 2021 by Rs10 per bag.