India beats the economic crisis Joachim Harder OIlCStOIlC COI/SII!till}; GroujJ GmbH,

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Summary: India has been largely spared by the global economic crisis. Although the country's economic growth decreased to 6.7 % in 2008 after 9 % previously, the Economic Advisory Council in India is already forecasting a slightly increase to 7.7% for 2009. For the next three years, India will have an increase in cement consumption of around 10 % per year. Up to the end ofFY 2012, the per capita cement consumption is expected to rise from the present 153 kg to 193 kg. New cement production capacities will increase by at least 83 Mta in the next three years, which exceeds the forecast of 55.6 Mta growth in cement output by 49 %. Correspondingly, a distinct deterioration in capacity utilization has to be expected, from the present 83 % to 78 % or less.

Zusammenfassung: Von der weltweiten Wirtschaftskrise ist Indien weitgehend verschont geblieben. Das Wirtschaftswachstum hat sich in 2008 zwar auf 6.7% nach 9 % zuvor abgeschwacht, flir 2009 wird von dem Economic Advisory Council in Indien aber schon wieder ein leichter Anstieg auf 7,7 % erwartet. Indien erf