Uflex Limited (BOM:500148)
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At close: May 8, 2026
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Q1 24/25

Aug 14, 2024

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to the Uflex Limited Q1 FY2025 results conference call hosted by Dolat Capital. As a reminder, all participants' lines will be in the listen-only mode, and there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions after the presentation concludes. Should you need assistance during this conference call, please signal an operator by pressing star then zero on your touchtone phone. Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Sachin Bobade from Dolat Capital. Thank you, and over to you, sir.

Sachin Bobade
Analyst, Dolat Capital Markets

Thank you, Neha. Good evening, everyone. On behalf of Dolat Capital, I welcome you all to the Q1 FY2025 earnings conference call of Uflex Limited. Hope you all and your family members are staying safe and healthy. From the management side, we have Mr. Rajesh Bhatia, Group President, Finance and Accounts, and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Surjit Pal, Vice President, Investor Relations. Now I hand the floor to Mr. Surjit Pal, Vice President, Investor Relations. Over to you, sir.

Surajit Pal
Research Analyst, Uflex Limited

Thank you, Sachin. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us today for the Q1 FY 2024-2025 earnings call of Uflex Limited. Let me draw your attention to the fact that on this call, our discussion will include certain forward-looking statements, which is predictions, projections, or other estimates about future events. These estimates reflect management's current expectations about the future performance of the company. Please note that these estimates involve several risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied. I would now request Mr. Rajesh Bhatia, Group President and CFO, for his opening remarks, following which we will open the forum for an interactive session and answer session. Over to you, sir.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Thank you, Surjit. Thanks for the brief introduction, and good afternoon, everyone. I welcome all of you to Uflex Q1 FY2025 earnings conference call. The numbers and, you know, the media interactions, would be before you, before I speak to you, you know, on this for the Q1 performance. On the outset, I will say that, you know, this been a very positive start to the financial year FY2025, mainly because, you know, after many year, after many quarters, we've seen a trend in the BOPET as well as BOPP prices. To bring to your kind notice that from since April, in a gradual manner, the PET prices have gone up by about 30% till end of July.

And the BOPP prices have gone up by about 18%-19%, on the, over the same period. And the major increases have come, you know, you can say after fifteenth of June. So, the quarter that has gone by will reflect only a little bit of, that, but the quarters to come by will reflect, you know, from here on, the benefit of these, price hikes. There's been a raw material price increase also, like, if the PET prices have gone up by 30%, the raw material prices are up by 8%. And for BOPP also, if the prices have gone up by 18%, the prices, raw material prices have gone by about 4% during the same period. So, the differential is still, you know, quite substantial, which will get reflected.

If the prices remain the way they are, the margins remain the way they are, they will get reflected in the earnings in the quarters to come. Notable is that, you know, in India or even on a sequential quarter basis, we have seen volumes going up by 5%, which is very healthy for the packaging films business of ours. And, overseas, if we see, has largely been flat on a sequential basis. The offtake as well as offtake has gone up just by 1%, which is neither here nor there. So overseas, maybe the total volumes have remained, you know, where they are, but definitely we see that the margins have improved in the offshore business.

The offshore business as such has reported 13.4% margin with 12.6% margin in the Q4 versus 7.2% margin in Q1 of the same period, Q1 FY 2023. So that's where you know that's the heartening story from this quarter's, the Q1 performance. Coming to you know the overall package for the quarter, we have more than 12% YOY increase in our revenues driven by a 10.2% volume increase. We even had on a sequential quarter basis a 5.3% revenue increase while the volumes were flat on a quarter-on-quarter basis for overall business. I'm saying I've come now to the overall business.

Earlier, I was talking about the packaging films business as such. The normalized EBITDA, without taking any exchange fluctuations into account, is INR 465 crores.

Our annual EBITDA guidance, which I had earlier said about INR 2,000 crore, I think there could be an upside by another 10% given the prices today, as well as, you know, the Q4 when we see the impact of the larger volumes from the aseptic packaging division coming into play, and our plant in Egypt for the PET chips getting commissioned, which will ensure that, you know, our plants in Egypt, Nigeria, Poland and Dubai will be fully fed from this, and still we will have a 30% surplus, which we can do that.

The Indian PET chips started from April. We capitalized this plant on thirty-first of March, and the Q1 itself, the capacity utilization achievement is about 65%. And of the, we sold about 25,000 tons, of which 30% was bottle grade, which was again, we don't consume it ourselves. So that opens up a new vista for the company, which is supplying raw material for the people who make the PET bottles. So that's another stream of income which is going to get added to us. So depending on as to where there are more margins, we can switch from the film grade to bottle grade and so on.

So, that's been a humongous, you know, benefit, having your own raw material, both in terms of quality as well as the pricing benefit that you, that you get. And aseptic packaging, this was a quarter where, you know, we recorded the highest ever production and the sales, equivalent to a capacity utilization level of about 120% for the quarter. I think, as I said earlier, you know, we have a higher capacity now available to 12 billion packs. The capacity utilization is at 120%, and amounts to about 8.5 billion packs annualized capacity. So when we have a 12 billion packs capacity available, we'll surely be doing much better volumes in Q4 as well as thereafter in FY 2026.

We've had substantial exports coming out of the aseptic packaging business as well, and about 38% is the exports by value what we do currently in this business in the current quarter, and about 62% is sold domestically. This export has helped us to, you know, better plan the lean season in India, which starts from, you can say, from middle of August until end of December. During this while, we can, you know, do still operate the plant at a higher levels looking at the exports market.

But in the peak season, the domestic volumes are always priority for us because, you know, it's a domestic customer who, even though the export prices are a bit higher, you know, we still have to, you know, serve our commitments to the domestic market, and we do that, you know, irrespective of even if the exports are giving us a better realization. Flexible packaging this quarter had not such a good quarter because, you know, as the raw material prices for them increase gradually because they have a lag with their customer, you know, for the price to be passed on 1 month to 3 months' time. So they'll always have a lesser margin during this period. But as the prices stabilize, you know, they'll be fine.

Their volumes will also be fine. Currently, because the prices are going up, I remember that, you know, over through April, May, June, July, August, September, August, so July. April, May, June, July. In four months, there have been at least, you know, half a dozen instances where the prices have gone up and for the packaging films, and which means that if the price rise is happening constantly, the flexible packaging business margins will be impacted because of the lag, you know, what they have. Overall, guidance for the EBITDA, I've already said. This quarter, again, we had a currency loss of INR 180 crores, of which Nigeria was about INR 100 crores, Egypt was INR 30 crores, and Mexico was around INR 50 crores.

I think this has become quite, you know, a normal phenomenon, because as you translate their local currency balance sheets into Indian rupee, that translation losses do result in these, these losses, which are more or less notional. But still, because of the accounting standards requirements, you have to account for that loss, because of the translation. Because even so that way, if we were, we make, you know, even our Indian balance sheet in some other currency which has depreciated against rupee, you know, you will have those translation losses, but, you know, they are, they are again largely notional. So to that extent, I think those can not be really attributable to the business performance. We are looking at the emerging opportunity in the recycling PCR in a big way.

Times are now coming and, you know, with India as well as the overseas territories, kicking in new laws with respect to, you know, the usage of the recycled materials in the packaging. I think, you know, our investments, which we've done in, in these PCR and MLP recycling will, will be utilized, and will, give us a higher revenue and the profitability. And, you know, these are coming into play from first of April 2025 and will, you know, sort of depending on as to how, strictly these are enforced in India. Europe is also, in fact, putting a, a large, number to the recycling, yeah, that, you know, the companies will have to use at least 20%-30% of the recycled plastics.

So, you know, that will be the key to look at in the future, in the next few years. And your company already has much better head start than others in this particular segment. And surely, in the next few years, this will gain momentum, and we'll be looking at substantial revenues and investments may also be required subsequently in this business. No plans as of now, though, but, you know, looking at the size of the opportunity that it will throw, even if it's, say, 20%-25% mandate to use the recycled materials, I think this will itself become turn out to be a huge business opportunity for Uflex.

On a debt side, vis-a-vis March, we are up by about INR 98 crore, largely because of the increase on the working capital side, which is the term that has come down. So the long-term term debt has reduced, but the working capital has gone up, which is, you know, linked to the higher production, productivity, linked to the higher output, higher sales, and also a function of the price of the raw materials and the price of the finished goods. So I think that keeps on, fluctuating depending on the, cycle of the prices where you are. But the long-term debt, which has gone to fund the CapEx, has come down slightly during, during this quarter.

As we go through the rest of the financial year, I think, we are due to complete our PET chips in Egypt, which will probably happen in Q3 or Q4 at the best. But, you know, certainly before the next financial year begins, I think we'll make this plant operational. Asepto debottlenecking will happen, probably before the season starts in January 2025 now, and the Mexico CPP facility will be commissioned, probably in Q2 of this financial year. So, I think the benefit of all these can come in FY 2026, and surely the PET chips in Egypt is going to be a big game changer for this entire three or four countries, which I just spoke about.

As of now, in Egypt, we don't have the flexibility of making the, you know, the bottle grade chips. But I think with a small bit of an investment there, we can have that flexibility also, given that, you know, we have a 30% output, which—for which we have to find the market. So, we'll, you know, sort of, like to create that flexibility also as the things, you know, sort of, progress. That's largely the undertone for the quarter, for the year, has been set by this quarter, which is a bullish tone, from here on.

In all the business segments, packaging films, aseptic packaging, flexible packaging, the PET chips business doing so well in the Q1 itself, you know, achieving with the initial teething troubles and this being a China plant, we imported from China. And given that, you know, there is a lot of, you know, visa restrictions on Chinese coming and visiting India, which was not there when we ordered this plant, you know, speaks very high of that you know, we could commission this facility and, yes, there were a few hiccups to begin with, but you know, still a 65% capacity utilization achievement in the Q1 of the operation speaks volumes, for the quality of, the management, the technical people who've been operating and running this plant.

I have no doubt that, you know, this plant from within this year will achieve a 90% capacity utilization level. Even at 65%, at an operating level, be profitable in this facility. But you know, as the plant stabilizes, as the quality stabilizes, the wastages come down, we'll be much better off, you know, in the months to come. Gentlemen, that was my take on this quarter. Again, just to reiterate that, that sets a very bullish tone for the things to come in the rest of the quarters in Q4 FY2025 and the period beyond that. Thank you. Thanks a lot. Any questions, please? I'll be happy to answer them.

Operator

Thank you very much. We will now begin the question and answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask a question, press star and one on their touchtone telephone. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press star and two. Participants are requested to use hands-free while asking a question. Ladies and gentlemen, we will wait for a moment while the question queue assembles. The first question is from the line of Chirag Singhal from First Water Capital. Please go ahead.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Yeah, hi. Am I audible?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Yeah, yeah, you are audible, Chirag.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Yeah. Thank you.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

The first is named because you will always ask the first question?

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Sorry?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

I'm saying the organization that you represent, First Water Capital-

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Yeah.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

You will always ask. You'll be the first one to always...

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Yeah, I really hope so. So just a couple of questions from my end. So first, on the Panipat PET chips facility, so what is the time by when we can expect full ramp up? And, you mentioned that there were some sales that you did during the quarter. So going forward, what is the mix between captive and external sales?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

So what I hope for what you are asking? Hello?

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Yeah.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Chirag,

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Panipat PET chips facility. I wanted to check what is the time that will take to ramp up to full capacity utilization. Going forward, what is the mix between captive and external sales?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

So Chirag, we produced, we sold about 25,000 tons this quarter, and of which about 30%... So if we sold 25,000 tons, 70% was the film grade and 30% was the bottle grade. So the bottle grade was sold 100% in the market, and the film grade was sold, almost, you can say 55% was consumed internally and the balance 45% was sold externally.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

So even with full capacity utilization, the ratio will be the same, which is 40% captive and 56%-

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

The ratio of the bottle grade will go up and, because bottle grade actually, actually started later than... No, didn't start on 31st of March, it started later. So, because at this level, at about, say, in the last three months, our internal consumption has been close to 10,000 tons, so which will remain at that level, and the rest of it, we will find it, you know, in the third party. There could be a possibility to export it to our other plants as well. But, again, the freight rates today, we started exporting to Nigeria also, but the freight rates today do not make the commercial sense from, inland plants, based out of Panipat to take it to the port and then from port to, Nigeria.

That was not commercially viable, you know. We will bottle grade, of course. We will sell mostly to the market only, and the rest would be 50/50 only.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Understood. So secondly, on [Foreign language]. So you mentioned that roughly 62 odd % was sold in India. So what is the market share of [Foreign language] in India?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

I won't have that number ready.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Because if I annualize this number at 8-8.5 billion packs, then roughly 4.5-5 billion packs is sold in India, right? So just wanted to understand if you can either give the industry-

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Because in the lean season, your production, your, you know, the consumption of the, Asepto gets impacted. So when I say, 120% capacity utilization, equivalent to hundred and equivalent to, say, 8.5 billion packs annually. So, you know, the market size, what I'm saying is, in the next six months, the domestic consumption may be, may be much lower, and overall capacity utilization during the lean period may be lesser than what, 120%.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Okay. So let me take the 12-13 billion pack capacity that we are planning to reach post the debottlenecking. So, in that, full capacity utilization, like, what will be the mix between domestic and exports? Like, what, what are we looking at in terms of domestic and exports?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

So, I think we will look to maintain about a third, 60% domestic and 40% exports.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Okay. Got it. So coming to the value-added products. So you mentioned in the press release that the value-added products fetch close to 3x more NSR than a commodity grade. And you also mentioned on Hungary that 30% of Hungary output is what you would like to be in the value-added product category. So in terms of spread, so NSR, you already mentioned the 3x. In terms of spread, what is the gap between value-added and commodity grade? And currently in Hungary, how much volumes are value added as a percentage of the total output?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Dhiraj, we'll have to get back to you offline for this detailed ask.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Okay, but the 30% is something that you aspire to be in Hungary or it's already achieved, the value-added products?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

I think we'll have to get back to you offline on this.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Okay. Okay. Also, you mentioned, you know, we are signing some long-term PPA in Noida. So, could you just quantify what are the annual savings that you're looking at?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

I think once we do Noida, so Noida, we will do about a 70% power tie-up. So Noida, about 18 crore units a year, so about 70% of that will be through wind and solar, on which the savings would be about 30-odd% or so. And in Dharwad, it will be about 85% of the power will be through solar, on which again, the saving will be about 32%.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

I think for Dharwad, you already quantified in the past for. Can you just quantify what is the cost savings that you're looking for in Noida?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

So Noida, if I look at 18 crore units, 70%, so 12 crore units, INR 3, INR 36 crore.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Got it.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Or, if there are 3.5 crore units consumed and INR 3.5 is saved, then INR 12 crore is saved.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Okay, understood. So my next question is on even the trends, trend on the spreads. So you mentioned that the prices have been going up, the NSRs have been going up. So, like, are these trends sustainable in the domestic market? And what is the trend that you have seen in the overseas markets? And also, if you can share the industry capacity utilization in India, because the spreads ideally will go up if the industry capacity utilization is also improved, right? So, what is the industry capacity utilization that you have seen in India?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Industry capacity utilization in India will be currently at about 65% or so. But India industry is exporting a lot from here, and, there is about a 57%, BOPET exports increase from India on a YOY basis and 27% BOPP increase. So that is what is balancing the, you know, whole thing in India.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Okay. What is the trend in the overseas markets?

Operator

I request you to come back for a follow-up question.

Chirag Singhal
Analyst, First Water Capital

Sure.

Operator

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, you may press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Kaushik Poddar from KB Capital Markets Private Limited. Please go ahead.

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

How do you see the demand supply equation on the packaging film front, both for BOPP as well as BOPET?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

For BOPP, there are no issues, at least for a year, say next 15 odd months or so, because there is no capacity which is getting added. Maybe one plant or so. So next 15 months looks to be pretty positive on this. BOPET side-

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Are you speaking only for India or for the world you are speaking of?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

I'm talking only for India.

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Okay, and how much % of BOPP films gets exported from India?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

BOPP, I don't have the percentage from India, but, you know, I think India may 50,000 tons quarterly [Foreign language] 70, so about 17% is being exported, you can say so.

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

The quarterly production is around 650 or 60,000 tonnes. How much you said?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Monthly production could be about 70-odd thousand tonnes-

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Okay.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

- of which 60+, 60,000 tons or maybe 5,000 ±, don't hold me to that-

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Uh-

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

would be consumed in India and the rest is being exported.

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Okay. Now, monthly production you said is 60,000 tonne, right?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Yes, sir.

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

And-

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Monthly, I said, is about 72,000 tons. 70, 70, between 70,000-75,000 tons.

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Okay.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Of which, 12,000 tons is being exported every month, and the rest is consumed in the country. Hope I'm clear now?

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Yeah, yeah, you are clear. Yeah, and on next one to be BOPET.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

For BOPET, currently the exports are about 22,000-23,000 tons a month. Consumption is about 60-odd thousand. 60 could be 60-65, anybody would guess. So if you take 65 + 23, 88, so 23 upon 88 is 26%. So about, say, 25% is being exported of the production and 75% is being consumed locally.

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Okay, okay. And so demand supply imbalance and equation in BOPET?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

So this balances out at these numbers, no?

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Okay, okay.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Balance-

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Any incremental capacity coming? I think that is what I try to find out.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

The capacity is now coming in the BOPET.

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

How much? Hello?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Am I not audible?

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Yeah, it's, I mean, it is getting interrupted in between. So if you can repeat what you said on the capacity front.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

No capacity additions are coming in BOPET.

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Okay.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Excuse me. Am I audible now?

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Right now you're audible, yeah.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

So, I...

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Then in BOPET.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

There's no additional capacity now getting installed in the BOPET.

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Okay.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Okay?

Kaushik Poddar
Analyst, KB Capital Markets

Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, you may press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Aman Kumar Sonthalia from AK Securities. Please go ahead.

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

Good evening, sir.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Good evening.

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

Yeah. Sir, my question is regarding this film price. There is an increase of around 20% in the Indian market. Whether it is the same in the international market also, where our plant is located?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

International markets may be price improvement [Foreign language] because India exports have, as I told you, India se PET exports have risen by about 67% in June 2024 quarter versus June 2023 quarter. So when India is supplying a lot to the overseas, so the prices are remaining in check in the overseas markets.

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

There is, I mean, a little bit of increase is there?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

There is a little bit of increase, because India trade, Red Sea positive impact . [Foreign language] sir, it is around 10%?

Mera khayal 5%-7% ke aaspaas hoga, depending on the market to market.

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

... Sir, my second question is that, [Foreign language] value added products [Foreign language] international market [Foreign language]?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Value added [Foreign language] . But we said that you know that answer we question we will answer secretly.

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

And sir, we are quite excited, I think I have gone through the speech of the MD sir. He is very very excited on this Plastic Waste Management Rule 2022. Sir, i chances it will actually happen aur ya yeh book reh sir.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

[Foreign language]

[Foreign language].

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language] government [Foreign language] across the globe [Foreign language] sir?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

Percent bhi sir, aisa lag raha hai.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

...

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

It seems that it will happen even 10%.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

10% [Foreign language] 1 April [Foreign language] , 2025.

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

Sir, based on experience [Foreign language] currency.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

... and sir, you are quite excited about the PET plant in Egypt. So sir, what is the reason for so much excitement in Egypt?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Egypt [Foreign language] plant hone se [Foreign language] to raw material security [Foreign language]

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Sir, last question, this is that sir, what is the turnover of this Asepto? Last question madam, one last question madam.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Sir, Asepto ka hum logon ka turnover aur margin [Foreign language] ?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Okay, thank you.

Operator

Thank you! Ladies and gentlemen, you may press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Aditya Vora from Share India Securities. Please go ahead.

Aditya Vora
Analyst, Share India Securities

Sir, thank you for your opportunity. Sir, I had a question. You mentioned for the fact that domestic BOPET and BOPP prices have gone up by about 25-30% in the past quarter. But the same has not been reflected in international pricing. So is there a chance for import to happen and is it not, is it economically not viable. Because there is so much parity in pricing. So is it possible?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aditya Vora
Analyst, Share India Securities

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

India will not import a... packaging film.

Aditya Vora
Analyst, Share India Securities

[Foreign language]to why will not it not happen?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

No, it will not happen. It hasn't happened ever in life, it will not happen in future.

Aditya Vora
Analyst, Share India Securities

Right, right, okay and one more thing regarding our debt. So can we expect that from 2026 and debt come down. Because, I think major CapEx has happened. So how do you look at debt going forward?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

[Foreign language]

[Foreign language]। So obviously you know, in a growing a...

In the field, in a growing business, you will have to keep yourself updated always. Whether to the technology or to the capacity because you cannot give away your market share to other people, just because you don't want to leverage to further CapEx by leveraging yourself.

Aditya Vora
Analyst, Share India Securities

Right, right and just one last thing. [Foreign language] bottle to bottle [Foreign language], bottle to bottle chips, who are your end customers in this?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

I will not be able to give details. That's a very confidential information. We will not be able to share that data at all about our customers and all.

Aditya Vora
Analyst, Share India Securities

Right, okay sir.

Operator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Prashant Rishi from Cascade Capital. Please go ahead.

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Good evening sir, sir you told that in BOPET currently there is no capacity which is coming and in BOPP there is no capacity which is coming in next 15 months. But that is the India picture. Can you give an idea globally, especially in China if you have any clue that there if there is any capacity coming in both types of things.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

See, China capacity, you know, we don't keep much track as an organization because you know, that does not impact any of our business. But I know the number that if in India this happens that in 1 year 2 or 3 lines will be added then in China that number would be 10-15x of that. But China players are so well entrenched in their own markets. Historically we have not seen them coming to the US, to the European, Middle East and Africa market. In the past we have seen that wherever China has, when they have a bit of overcapacity and the bunching of capacities, they have at best hit the Southeast Asia market, where we don't have a presence, at all.

But, you know, never, ever in the past, you know, they have either come to India or they have gone to other territories in which we are operating. So, if you really ask me, our focus on what's happening in China is not as much there as the focus could be as to what's happening, the capacities, what are the capacity additions happening in the markets I operate in.

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Okay, understood. Got it. Sir, and the price increase, which has happened in June quarter in both BOPP and BOPET films, after the June quarter, you are seeing it sustain?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Yeah, yeah, we're seeing it sustain.

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Okay. All right. So, so for next 2-3 years at least, you know, till the, till any new capacity comes, these prices should sustain or even increase. That's the understanding.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

So major jo gain [Foreign language]

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Mm-hmm.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]. So sorry, we crossed ourselves while you were asking a question, so can you repeat yourself?

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

No. So my question was just ki for the next 2, 3 years, till any new capacity comes in either of the films, the price should at least sustain and increase from current levels as well.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

BOPP [Foreign language] capacity.

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Okay.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

So that's why-

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Sir, what is the scale of that capacity? Is it huge capacity coming, or do you think it will just get absorbed during in the growth at that time?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

It is a substantial capacity which is coming on stream.

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Okay, after 15 months. And in BOPP, in BOPET it is not coming. So in BOPET, there is a clear runway ahead of,

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

BOPET capacity additions are over, over, over.

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Oh, okay. Perfect. Last point, sir. Historically... Hello, sir, I'm audible?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Yes.

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Yeah. You said, sir, historically, India has never imported packaging films. Is there any particular reason why is it never viable for any, any global importer, even say China, you said never, you know, exports its films to India? Is there any particular commercial reason why that has never happened historically, if you know?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

I have no idea on that.

Prashant Rishi
Analyst, Cascade Capital

Okay. Okay, all right. Thanks a lot, sir. That's all from my side.

Operator

Thank you. A reminder to all the participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Yash Dedhia from Maximal Capital. Please go ahead.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Thank you for the opportunity, sir. I just had a question about the international prices and the, for the BOPP and BOPP. So, international prices have not gone, you know, have not risen up like so in domestic market.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Yes.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

The reason for that, you said that from the export from India is not letting the price go up.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Partly, yes, you are right.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

So, now, since the capacity utilization is, say, at India level is almost there, reached its potential. Going ahead, do we see international market also, you know, behaving like domestic market prices?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

See, if the realization from the domestic market will be better-

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Mm-hmm.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

So obviously, and the domestic consumption increases by 10%-12% every year.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Mm-hmm.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

To that extent, you know, the exports will get substituted with the domestic sales.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Yeah, and since the exports will be substituted, consequently, the international prices should go up.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Yes.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Okay, so we may see a driver from there as well.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Yes.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Sir, this PWMR rule, so, do we see shift from BOPP to BOPET? Because BOPP cannot be, you know, recycled. So do we see some shift happening from BOPP to BOPET because of that?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

You're right. Maybe that is, that can happen.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Right.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Because BOPP [Foreign language]

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Mm-hmm.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Mm-hmm.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

But [Foreign language] .

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Okay. And sir, [Foreign language] ?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Yeh sab, these all capacities are ready to function?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

No, no, they are already functioning. We're saying that they will get impetus with the law. So, so today it is a self-regulation.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Mm.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

So when it's a self-regulation, then the people who are conscious, there is a certain market for that product, so it, it's getting that market. But when it becomes a law, it becomes a regulation, not a self-regulation anymore, then probably people will need it more now.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

So the realization would go up, but do we see upside from capacity utilization as well?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

The value will also be. The margins will also go up.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Yeah, margins will go up. And so are we operating on a lower capacity utilization, which we might see, you know, increase in volume as well, so volume and value, both play?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

We are, because PCR plant in Egypt, we just-

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Mm.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

started recently only.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Okay.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

In decommissioning. The plant in Mexico also is not operating at a full capacity. India plant is operating at a full capacity, but that is small plant. So these two plants, you know, Egypt will take care of the European market, and the Mexican will take care of the American markets, the two most mature markets globally. So that is where they are set up there. And as the regulation, both self and the law regulation, creates more demand, so there is more money to be made through these investments.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Okay. And so we are not adding on more capacity right now?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

No, as of now, none. As of now, none.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

From when will our debt repayment start?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Sorry?

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

When, from when will our debt repayment start?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Debt repayment already started [Foreign language].

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

[Foreign language].

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

[Foreign language]are we forcing debt repayment over and above the schedule?

No, I'm not able to understand your question. I'm saying, whenever we take the loan, there is a scheduled repayment agreement.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Correct.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Okay? So that scheduled repayment is about INR 1,000 crore a year for us, and we will, we paid that in the past, and we pay that in the years to come as well. So that is my answer, but I've given you a generic answer. Probably, I've not been able to understand your question.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Yes, so I am asking whether are we interested in paying more than scheduled debt because we will be getting more cash profit now, since the margins are going up.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

There's no plan as of now.

Yash Dedhia
Analyst, Maximal Capital

Okay. Oh, thank you so much.

Operator

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, you may press star and one to ask a question. A reminder to all the participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. Participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. The next follow-up question is from the line of Aman Kumar Sonthalia from AK Securities. Please go ahead.

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

Sir, right now, our capacity utilization is around 83%. So, when we can think, we will achieve this 100% utilization level?

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language].

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

Neha, overall, total.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

So overall [Foreign language], Mexico [Foreign language] capacity utilization improvement a[Foreign language] is quarter [Foreign language] Nigeria [Foreign language] . So I think we will be, we will be close to, you know, these are the two ones who are not operating at a full level. [Foreign language] more or less [Foreign language] I don't think so that, you know, there is any-

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

presentation [Foreign language] Russia is at 63%, Poland is at around 77%, and-

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

And sir, [Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

And so overall sir film [Foreign language] domestic and international [Foreign language] next near future [Foreign language] there is no issue on that.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language]

[Foreign language]

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

O kay sir, thank you.

[Foreign language].

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language]

[Foreign language].

[Foreign language]

[Foreign language]

we have the technology to convert that and we will set up small small plant in different location for that. [Foreign language] sir.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language] sir, thank you.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

The PCR opportunity is not only with us, everyone will have it, because that technology in it is not only with us. The PCR chips to make, from bottle grade taking to making film from that and all that, even today in the world from bottle grade chips are made and those chips are used in fabric in textile. But using those chips in the packaging film, BOPET and all that is what we have started and this technology is not with people. But bottle grade, taking bottle to make chips is not any new thing.

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language]

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

Okay sir, thanks a lot.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language]

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

Okay, okay sir, still it's big opportunity! Despite this and others also have it still.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

[Foreign language].

Aman Sonthalia
Analyst, AK Securities

[Foreign language], thank you.

Operator

Thank you! Ladies and gentlemen, we will take this as a last question. I now hand the conference over to the management for closing comments.

Surajit Pal
Research Analyst, Uflex Limited

Thank you ladies and gentlemen for the engaging question, we will soon have the transcript of this call on our website www.uflexlimited.com. We look forward to speak to again in the coming quarter. Thank you and have a great day.

Rajesh Bhatia
CFO, Uflex Limited

Thank you, thank you.

Operator

Thank you! We thank the management of this call on behalf of Dolat Capital. That concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us and you may now disconnect your lines.

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