Steep input prices, forex variations impact PAT
Despite challenging market conditions prevailing during most of the current financial year, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) recorded a sales turnover of Rs 23877.78 crore during April-September (H1), as compared to Rs. 21,628 crore in the corresponding period last year (CPLY), registering an increase of 10.4% y-o-y. The company achieved total sales of 5.6 million tonnes during H1, showing a growth of 4.3% over CPLY. Sales of special quality grades in flat products were up by 8% in H1 over CPLY. Sales of long rails to the Indian Railways were also higher by 14.7% over CPLY.
SAIL's net worth has risen by Rs. 1,493 crore from 31 st March '11 to over Rs. 38,562 crore as on 30 th Sept. '11.
During the first six months of the current financial year, the company registered profit before tax (PBT) of Rs 1,945.75 crore and profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 1,333.62 crore, which were about 42% and 41% lower than CPLY, respectively. Impact of Rs. 1,916 crore in PBT compared to CPLY was primarily due to higher input prices, out of which Rs. 1,071 crore was on account of imported coal alone. Besides, impact of foreign exchange variation has been to the tune of Rs. 579 crore during this period on account of dollar appreciating from a level of Rs. 48.98 as on 30.9.11 against Rs. 45.35 as on 30.9.10. The impact of these factors was, however, partially offset by higher sales volumes and net sales realisations.
Results for the company's performance during July-Sept. (Q2) of FY '12 reflected growth of over 2% in sales turnover (Rs. 11970.35 crore) compared to CPLY. PBT and PAT during Q2, at Rs. 714.89 crore and Rs. 494.64 crore, were around 55% lower than CPLY, caused by several adverse factors, including higher input prices foreign exchange variation, royalty on iron ore, etc. Excluding the exceptional item of foreign exchange variation of Rs. 509 crore during the quarter, PBT for the company would have been almost at the same level as the previous quarter, i.e. Apr-June '11. Impact on account of foreign exchange variation is only notional.
The company has achieved major success on the raw material securitisation front with the Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India issuing orders for reserving 140 hectares of iron ore-bearing area in NEB, Bellary district, Karnataka for exploration & mining by VISP, SAIL for 20 years on 21 st Oct. '11. Further, the company has also issued a global tender for setting up of 10 MTPA beneficiation and 4 MTPA pelletisation plants at Gua Iron Ore Mines on 2 nd Oct. '11. This would not only improve the quality of iron ore for use at SAIL plants but would also make the mines' operation more sustainable through usage of low grade ores, dumped fines and slimes.
With modernisation & expansion in SAIL plants/units on in full swing, many of the major projects are in an advanced stage of readiness and are likely to go on-stream in the coming months.
Meanwhile, SAIL has taken a number of strategic initiatives in steel and allied areas. The SAIL Board has approved formation of a special purpose vehicle for revival of the Sindri unit of FCI and submitted a draft rehabilitation scheme to BIFR to enable transfer of assets of the unit. Collaboration with partner companies on implementation of new Railways projects in Bengal - wagon manufacturing unit at Kulti and wagon components manufacturing unit Nandigram - have been speeded up.
Responding to the results, SAIL Chairman Mr. C.S. Verma said, "We are hopeful of demand to pick up in the coming months in the country with projects likely to take off in several major sectors of the economy, particularly Railways, Roads, Power, etc. This along with falling prices of input raw material prices should help the domestic steel industry combat the current challenges."
SAIL Chairman Mr C.S. Verma addressing a press conference today at Ispat Bhavan, New Delhi
