New Delhi, Sept. 15 -- Cement companies could be making their last-ditch effort to shield themselves from profitability pressures with the September quarter (Q2FY27) at its fag-end. Companies are trying to tackle input cost inflation by taking price hikes amid muted demand in a seasonally weak quarter, but dealers caution that implementation remains challenging.

According to Nomura Global Markets Research, average pan-India prices in the trade segment could rise by Rs.10 per bag month-on-month to Rs.330 in September. In the trade segment, cement is sold through a network of local dealers, usually in 50-kilogram bags. But the chances that these attempts to raise prices will fail are high. September's volume offtake may be hurt by monsoon-...