India's Ambuja Cements Ltd. (500425.BY) reported Friday a 24.7% fall in its consolidated net profit for the year ended Dec. 31, due to rising input costs and lower demand.

Consolidated net profit in 2008 fell to INR13.90 billion from INR18.46 billion in the previous year.

Net sales rose 9.5% to INR62.62 billion in 2008, from INR57.19 billion in 2007.

"Our financial performance for the year has been impacted by lower overall demand for cement and higher input costs, coupled with restricted ability to pass on the increased burden to the market," the company said in a statement.

-By Ankur Relia; Dow Jones Newswires; +91-22-2288 4212; ankur.relia@dowjones.com