Meghalaya Powers India’s Cement Sector, Ranks Among Top Producers
Meghalaya has firmly established itself as one of India’s leading cement-producing states, a key contributor to the country’s robust cement industry, as highlighted in the Economic Survey 2024-25 by the central government. As India stands as the second-largest cement producer globally, following China, Meghalaya’s abundant limestone deposits play a crucial role in the sector’s success.
India’s cement industry is a vast network comprising 159 integrated large cement plants, 128 grinding units, five clinkerisation units, and 62 mini-cement plants. Collectively, this industry holds an annual installed capacity of 639 million tonnes, with a production volume reaching approximately 427 million tonnes in the financial year 2024. The state of Meghalaya, rich in limestone reserves, is well-positioned to support this expansive industry, as it houses several major cement plants strategically located near these valuable raw materials. According to the data in the Economic Survey, approximately 87 percent of the country’s cement industry is concentrated in specific states, including Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Meghalaya, and West Bengal.
This concentration reflects the close proximity of cement plants to raw material sources, a critical factor for maintaining cost-efficiency and production stability. The Indian cement sector is currently operating with sufficient capacity to meet domestic demand, with a per capita cement consumption of 290 kg compared to the global average of 540 kg. The central government’s focus on infrastructure development—spanning highways, railways, housing schemes, and rural development—promises to drive a sharp increase in demand for cement in the years ahead. This growth trajectory underscores the importance of the cement industry and the pivotal role that states like Meghalaya will continue to play in India’s economic progress.
