Kochi: The price of cement in Kerala will be increased by Rs 50 per sack from October. Currently, branded cements are sold at Rs 400-410 and others at Rs 360-370, including freight and unloading charges.

Prices may vary depending on the availability of cement in some places. The rise in cement prices is likely to push the construction sector in the state into further crisis.

Builders said that they will not be able to sustain the price hike, especially given the decline in business due to the economic crisis. They said that the rise in prices will result in loss of lakhs of rupees, especially for those who work on contract.

The cement manufacturers, on the other hand, said that there has been no significant increase in the price of cement in the past year. They argue that it is not possible to sustain the market without increasing the price, considering the high cost of production and wages of workers.