LOOKING AHEAD
Setting The Foundation For Strong Growth In 2026
Backed by strong H1 FY26 performance, Adani Cement eyes accelerated growth through expansion, innovation and premium offerings in 2026.
Priti Saldanha
Adani Cement, comprising Ambuja Cements and its subsidiaries, is poised for robust growth in 2026, following a strong performance in the first half of FY 2026. As the 9th largest building materials solutions provider globally, it continues to reshape the industry landscape through operational efficiencies, bold expansion strategy, a comprehensive focus on market share gains and R&D-led premium cement offerings which has enabled differentiated performance both in volume growth and improved realisations.
Adani Cement targets a capacity of 155 MTPA by FY 2028, a 10% increase over its original plan. This incremental 15 MTPA will be achieved through low-capex debottlenecking at USD 48/MT. The company continues to target a total cost of INR 4000 per metric tonne by the end of FY 2026, with a clear trajectory towards INR 3,650 per metric tonne by FY 2028. Kiln fuel costs remain among the lowest in the industry, supported by alternative fuel expansion and logistics optimisation.
Adani Cement is pioneering a transformation that will redefine how cement moves across India - a transformation that blends digital intelligence with physical infrastructure to deliver cost efficiency, reliability and sustainability.
Adani Cement’s approach begins with a robust digital backbone. Its “Plants of the Future,” powered by Adani AI Labs and Microsoft Azure, enable real-time synchronisation of operations and dispatch. Fleet intelligence through Axestrack, combined with ePOD and DIGIPIN, ensures transparency and reduces inefficiencies. The Cement Intelligent Network Operations Centre (CiNOC) integrates plant, fleet, and partner data to anticipate bottlenecks, improving OTIF and predictability.
Adding to this, Agentic AI introduces autonomous planning, predictive maintenance and self-optimising workflows — converting data into measurable cost savings and higher asset utilisation.
On the physical front, Adani Cement is shifting bulk movement from road to rail through CONCOR partnerships and specialised tank containers, reducing both cost and emissions. Collaborations with Ashok Leyland, SANY, TransWorld Group and Enviiro Wheels are accelerating EV and hydrogen truck adoption, while advanced BCFCM and BVCM wagons from Jupiter Wagons enhance freight efficiency.
Perhaps the most transformative element is marine logistics. Adani Cement plans to scale sea movement from under 2% today to 10% by FY 2028, supported by seven new vessels (65,000 DWT), ten Bulk Cement Terminals, and seven port-based grinding units. This shift is expected to unlock INR 300–INR 400 per tonne savings and cut emissions by up to 60%, while opening new coastal demand corridors.
Adani Cement’s long-term goal is ambitious: reduce logistics cost by ₹530 per tonne by FY 2028 while building cleaner, more predictable and resilient supply chains. For customers and partners, this translates into faster deliveries, lower landed costs, and deeper transparency. In essence, the company is not just improving logistics — it is setting a new benchmark for trust and efficiency in India’s cement industry.
Synergies across the Adani Group, including the utilisation of fly ash, multimodal logistics, and digital infrastructure, have further enhanced competitiveness. Premium cement now contributes more than 35% of trade sales, supported by the installation of 13 new blenders and robust technical services for contractors. Brand and ecosystem engagement through CEO Club, SamvAAAd, Dhanvarsha, NirmAAAnotsav and dealer-focused campaigns such as Ambuja Kawach and ACC Gold continue to strengthen trust and preference.
Digitalisation remains a cornerstone of Adani Cement’s strategy. CiNOC has embedded artificial intelligence into operations, driving real-time decision-making and transparency across plants, logistics, and sales. The institutionalisation of the Adani Workplace Management System (AMWS) and the expansion of the FutureX industry–academia initiative, now engaging over 500 institutes and 12 lakh students, are building a future-ready talent pipeline for manufacturing and sustainability.
Adani Cement continues to lead on sustainability, with both near-term and net-zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The Company is the first in Indian cement to adopt the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework, reinforcing its leadership in nature-positive action and climate risk management. It is set to become the world’s first to commercially deploy Coolbrook’s RotoDynamic Heater technology at its Boyareddypalli plant, enabling electrified, low-carbon clinker production at scale.
Ambuja Cements has recently secured an Indo-Swedish grant for a Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) pilot with IIT Bombay. Captured CO2 will be channelled into materials like calcium carbonate or to produce green methanol using green hydrogen pathways -shifting from conventional carbon capture and storage to a circular carbon economy that reduces emissions while enabling new green fuels and materials. Green power now accounts for 32.9% of the Company’s energy mix, with a pathway towards 60% by FY28. The company has also achieved 12x water positivity, 11x plastic negativity and the planting of over 7 million trees, setting benchmarks in resource stewardship and circularity.
With favourable policy measures, ongoing infrastructure investments and a continued emphasis on digitalisation, sustainability and talent development, Adani Cement is well positioned to capture emerging opportunities and set new benchmarks for the industry in the year 2026 and beyond.