Cement maker, Madras Cements Ltd has said that it has recorded a 35 per cent fall in net profit during the fourth quarter of the financial year 2012-2013.

The company's net profit fell 35 per cent to Rs. 64.15 crore and its net sales fell 5 per cent to Rs. 927.23 crore during the fourth quarter compared to the same quarter of the previous tear.

The total expenses rose 13 per cent to Rs. 844.62 crore during the quarter from January to March 2013 mainly due to an 11 per cent rise in power costs to Rs. 193.87 crore and a 21 per cent rise in transport and handling costs to Rs. 224.46 crore.

The earnings of the company fell due to higher freight charges and power and fuel expenses. The decline was also due to a fall in average price realization of cement bag in the country. Analysts were expecting a fall of 1-2 per cent in the quarter, but the realizations fell by 8per centand this affected earnings of cement makers in the country.

Shares of Madras Cements fell 5.06 per cent to close at Rs. 232.45 per share on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).