Heidelberg Cement India, part of the Germany based cement maker Heidelberg Cement AG, has posted a rise of 6.78% in its net profit at INR 134.04 crore for the year ended December 31st 2009 compared with INR 125.53 crore in the previous year. The company's net sales during the year rose to INR 936.39 crore from INR 761.30 crore up by 23%.

The company, which acquired Indorama Cement and Mysore cement, managed to reduce its fuel and energy costs during the year by 9%. Along with it, better realizations due to firm cement prices helped the German major post good numbers in its Indian operations. The volumes growth was marginal at 2%.

The power and fuel costs declined to INR 176.54 crore against INR 193.47 crore.

Heidelberg India, currently, has a capacity of 3.07 million tonnes. The company is undergoing expansion projects to double its capacity to 6 million tonnes by the first quarter of 2012. The new expansions are being done in the states of Uttar Pradesh in Jhansi and Madhya Pradesh.

(Sourced from BS)