Yes, hi sir, thanks for the opportunity. So, my question is on the amendments to the Emission Trading Scheme , ETS, you know, in EU, will likely lead to lower Turkish soda ash imports and benefit the local manufacturers. So, Turkey players had also mentioned about an impact on the contract negotiations for 2025. So, how should one read this in the context of Tata Chem shutting down the plant? And as a follow- up, is this, I mean, an incremental question there, is it likely to put further pressure on the Indian industry as Turkey imports will likely increase significantly into India?
Questions across 5 calls
Nitesh Dhoot
Dolat Capital
Tata Chemicals Limited
Just a quick one from my side. Typ ically, how many days of shutdown is taken in Q1? And will it be sufficient for integration capacity with the existing plant?
Thank you, sir.
SRF Limited
So my question is on the Chemicals Business, where in some key molecules, there has been a sharp price erosion. We had earlier emphasized on improving cost structures and volume growth to aid margins. With the recovery seen in the second half, along with the new molecules gaining traction, will we be able to make up for the margin erosion? Or do you want to downward revise your EBIT margin outlook of 23%- 24%?
My next question is on the capex. So cash capex of around INR600 crore has been done in H1, while the commercialization has been around INR225 crore. We had given a capex range of INR15 billion to INR19 billion previously. And as I understand that ’s the cash capex amount. So 2 parts to this question here. One is, will we be within the range of the cash capex laid out? And second, how much shall we commercialize in FY25?
Aarti Industries Limited
So, my first question is if you could just elaborate on the sequential decline in other expenses to around Rs. 281 crore from Rs. 319 crore despite the increase in volumes that we've seen, especially on the export side. So, in the previous quarter, Q4, that is, I mean the reason for higher Opex given out was the Red Sea related freight cost increase and freight costs have only increased further in Q1. So, what explains the decline in Opex?
Secondly, sir, I mean what explains the fluctuation on the gross margin from quarter-to-quarter in the last three quarters, i.e., since we started executing the long-term contracts, so 41% going to 36%, coming back to 40% and again 38%, prior to that, if I look at the entire FY'23 and first half of FY'24, the gross margins were largely stable in the 41%, 42% range?
So, my question is with reference to one of your products which goes in for Octane boosters. So, if you could explain the demand for this particular product and is it part of any contract, long or short term or how sustainable is the ongoing demand that we are witnessing there.
So, ex of this product, has there been significant growth in the other exported products also or this has been one of the drivers if I may ask?