Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to the Balkrishna Industries Limited Q2 and H1 FY 2025 earnings conference call. This conference call may contain forward-looking statements about the company, which are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the company as on the date of this call. These statements are not the guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. As a reminder, all participant 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 the 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. Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Thank you. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. Along with me, I have Mr. Bajaj, Senior President, Commercial and CFO, Mr. Ravi Joshi, Deputy CFO, Mr. Sushil Mishra, Head of Accounts, and SGA, our investor relations advisor. Let me begin with performance updates. The second quarter panned out as per our expectations. We are all witnessing macro challenges accentuated by recessionary fears in U.S., geopolitical tension, and inflationary raw material scenario, coupled with high freight costs. This has resulted in a weak demand scenario across our major markets, barring India, where we continue to witness stable demand environment. We expect this weakness in international markets to continue for the remainder of the year. In spite of these challenges, we believe we will be able to achieve a minor sales volume growth in the financial year 2025, as guided in our previous earnings calls.
We have completed the CapEx for 30,000 metric ton per annum of high value of advanced carbon materials and commissioned this plant in September. This is for the non-tire grade carbon black, which will be used in plastics, inks, paints, and other special industries. During the last board meeting, we had also announced a tire CapEx. We have now begun the implementation of the first phase of this CapEx, which is towards the OTR range of tires. We expect this completion of phase one in the first half of financial year 2026. With this, I now move on to operational highlights. For the quarter, our volume stood at 73,298 metric ton, a growth of 4% year on year.
For H1, volume stood at 156,867 metric ton, a volume growth of 14% year on year. Our standalone revenue for the second quarter stood at INR 2,465 crore, registering a growth of 10% year on year. This includes realized gain on foreign exchange pertaining to sales of INR 29 crore. For the first half of this year, standalone revenue stood at INR 5,207 crore, registering a growth of 19% year on year. This includes realized gain on foreign exchange pertaining to sales of INR 18 crore. For the first half of this year, 44% of sales came from Europe, 29% from India, 16% from Americas, and the balance from rest of the world.
In terms of channel contribution, 73% was contributed from replacement, while OEM contributed to 25%, and the balance coming from after. In terms of category, agricultural segment contributed to 59%, while OTR Industrial Construction contributed to 37%, and the balance came from other segments. The standalone EBITDA for the quarter was INR 619 crore, registering a growth of 13% year on year versus. The margin came at 25.11%. For the first half of this year, the standalone EBITDA came at INR 1,333 crore, registering a growth of 29% year on year. The margin for the first half was at 25.6%. Other income stood at INR 105 crore, while for the first half of this year, it was INR 187 crore.
Profit after tax stood for the quarter at INR 350 crore, registering a growth of 4%. While for the first half of this year, we have recorded INR 827 crore of profit, registering a growth of 28%. Our CapEx spend for the first half of this year was INR 550 crore. Our gross debt stood at INR 3,062 crore at the end of 30th September 2024. Our cash and cash equivalents were INR 2,994 crore. Accordingly, we have a net debt of approximately INR 68 crore. The board of directors had declared a second interim dividend of INR 4 per share. This brings the dividends to INR 8 per share, including the first interim dividend.
Before I conclude and leave the floor open for opening questions, I would like to wish all of you a very happy Diwali in advance. Thank you.
Thank you very much, sir. We will now begin the question and answer session. Participants present on the audio bridge who wish to ask a question may press Star and one on their touchtone telephone. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press Star and two. Ladies and gentlemen, we'll wait for a moment while the question queue assembles. Our first question is on the line of Jinesh Gandhi from Ambit Capital. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Hi, sir. Quickly, two questions. One is, in previous call, you had talked about increase in RM costs, increase in freight costs , and in turn, margins in that context should have come substantially lower. But it seems you have done a exceptionally good job on margin management. So any price hikes taken, and if you can quantify the impact of RM costs in this quarter and the upcoming quarter?
We have taken the price hike in Q2, not in the last quarter.
Yeah, what will be the price hike in Q3?
So the impact would be-
No, sorry.
So it will come in, the impact of that will come in Q3, and it will be to the tune, I mean, very marginal, maybe about 1%-2%.
Okay. RM impact in Q2, can you quantify that? How much impact you saw?
In Q2 to Q3, RM impact may be the similar, whatever increase we have taken.
In Q2, how much? On the commodity basket, what kind of increase we saw?
So 3%-4% on the raw material, and on the sales price, it will be half, approximately.
Right. Right. Got it. Got it. And, the last question is on demand outlook. So you talked about, business continuing in second half as well. Now, this is, the impact which you have seen on the retail demand or is this still inventory correction which is taking place? I believe inventory correction is largely done, but, if retailers are with them, is there further inventory correction which we are seeing?
At the moment, it is mainly demand outlook.
Okay, got it. So inventory is comfortable?
Yes.
Got it. I have a few more questions. I will call back in queue.
Thank you. Our next question is on the line of Mumuksh Mandlesha from Anand Rathi Institutional Equities. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Thank you, sir, for the opportunity, and happy Diwali. Sir, there's been an increase in production stops for European players. Is it due to weak demand or they're losing market share? And also, we have seen lot of M&A activities in this space in Europe market. So how do you see that playing for us in terms of pricing and market share, sir?
Hello?
Yeah.
Hello?
Yes, sir.
Yeah, so I think, on the other players in Europe, what they're doing, we can't comment. And on M&A, we have been... There is no impact, as we had mentioned. We are also waiting and watching.
Got it, sir. Sir, in terms of OEM demand, which was very weak this quarter, any improvement or expectation there you're seeing in the Q3 quarter, sir?
We are working towards it, but not seeing in the immediate future.
Got it, sir. Sir, in terms of EUDR regulation, how is your preparation for the, supply for the regulation? I just want to check, the date of implementation for the regulation, sir. Is any change there?
So there is a change in the EUDR regulation. European Union is postponing it for one year, but it has to be passed in the parliament, which is likely to happen in November. So all said and done, it is likely to be postponed for one year. But we are ready with the EUDR production. We can do any time when, and when it is implemented.
Got it, sir. And sir, lastly, what was the Euro INR rate for Q2, and what do you expect it for H2 and FY 2026, sir?
So last quarter it was 91, and next quarter we are expecting, rest of the year, we are expecting 92.
Got it, sir. Thank you so much for the opportunity.
Thank you. Our next question is from the line of Raghunandan NL from Nuvama Research. Please go ahead.
Thank you, sir, for the opportunity, and the performance has been very good, considering the challenging circumstances. Sir, firstly, on the demand side, can you speak about the distributor inventory levels? Is it higher than normal levels? And specifically, if you can comment about how you are seeing the agri demand in replacement for Europe and North America.
At the demand, I mean, at the inventory level, we are seeing it to be at normal levels, but as I mentioned, the demand is slowing down, so that is what the challenge is, which we are working towards.
Got it, sir. And anything specific where on the agri side where you are seeing any kind of, or by when do you hope things could improve on the demand side?
It's a little early to comment on that. We are watching and being actively present in the market, so we are keeping an eye for that.
Understood, sir. On carbon black revenue, how was it in the current quarter, and how do you expect it to increase going ahead, with the new capacity being operational?
So new capacity is for the specialty carbon black. So this has come only in September. So in the coming quarter, you will see the impact of this one. And currently, we are selling approximately 50% of our carbon black production in the market.
Got it, sir. And how much would that be in revenue?
It is less than 10%. Still, it is less than 10%.
Got it, sir. And lastly, before I fall back to the queue, given that you have a better Euro realization for H2, and you also have the benefit of a 1%-2% price hike, which will come in Q3, how do you see the margin range broadly for the full year? Would you expect, given that first half you have done 25.5%, how do you see the full year range?
We expect the similar, around 25%, as we told in the last call also. So it will be around 25%.
Got it, sir. I'll fall back to the queue, sir, for remaining questions.
Thank you. Our next question is from the line of Siddhartha Bera from Nomura. Please go ahead.
Yes, sir, thanks for the opportunity. Sir, first question is on this, demand side again. I mean, if you look at OE or replacement, where do you see a bigger challenge in terms of recovery, and what will probably drive that, if you have some color for the next year, what things we should look forward to?
Sorry, can you repeat the question? We could not pick it up.
I was, sir, asking about, like, where is the bigger challenge in terms of demand, OE, replacement, where do you see bigger stress? And what will drive that recovery, if you have some insights, what should we look forward to for the recovery to play out?
So at the moment, demand is weak all over. It's not just replacement OE. Overall, in Europe and North America, it is weak. And I think we are also waiting and watching. It's very difficult to pinpoint one thing and say, "This is what will drive the recovery or something." There are a lot of factors currently affecting geopolitical situations, tensions and all. So we are waiting and watching.
Got it. Have you seen any sort of pickup in exports or market share gain for Indian players in U.S., compared to China? Have we sort of seen any sort of trend like that?
No, no, no, no, no.
Okay. Okay. Sir, on the cost side then, if you can highlight, freight cost, of late seems to have come down a bit, so shall we expect normalization in freight cost in the second half from where we are in Q2, or, do you think it will take longer?
No, we are expecting it to, freight to hold at these levels for a while. But, let's be, at this moment, we are not seeing any reduction, further reduction.
Okay. Okay. And so lastly, on this other expense, this quarter, there has been a decline on a YOY basis. So is it that some costs have not come in quarter or if you can throw some color on why it is down?
Yeah, it is because of decrease in promotional expenses. Last quarter, there was a major expenditure in IPL, so this quarter there was no such expenses, and apart from this, there was also reduction in production also.
Okay, so this should normalize as and when you start this promotional expense. That is what you should have mean? Okay. Lastly, on the CapEx side, first half, we did about INR 500 crore, so you had guided earlier for INR 700 crore-INR 800 crore for the year. So what is the updated guidance, if you have for the year?
Between 800 and 1,000 crore.
Between 800 and 1,000. Okay, sir. Thanks a lot, and congratulations.
Thank you. Our next question is from the line of Abhinav Ganeshan from SBI Pension Funds. Please go ahead.
Good morning, sir. Thanks for taking my question. Wish you a very happy Diwali, and congrats on a, you know, great set of numbers. I just had two questions. First one is regarding our volume. So we have done 1.56 lakh tons. So can we estimate that we will be able to match our FY 2023 high volume of 3.02 lakh tons?
As I mentioned in my opening remarks, that we believe we will be able to achieve a minor sales volume growth over the financial year 2025, so this is what we are holding to.
So, so if you can, So it will be like a low single digit number? That would be fair to assume.
I cannot comment on that. I can give you what the guidance is. You can pick up-
Okay.
I mean, you can put the number whatever you feel, but our volume guidance is, I mean, in that line.
Yeah, sir, that was useful. And one more question is, with raw material cost, that is, natural rubber and, you know, even crude oil being a little lower, in the current quarter, so where can we see some of that benefits flow through for us in Q3 and Q4, if you could give some thoughts?
There may not be any immediate relief for this, price going down, because we are the importer, so our raw materials are already in pipelines. This impact, the petrol prices are getting reduced, will be in the fourth quarter.
Okay, sir. That was useful. Thank you. That's all from my side.
Thank you. Our next question is from the line of Basudeb Banerjee from CLSA. Please go ahead. Hello?
Hello.
Hello? Hello.
Mr. Banerjee, we can't hear you. Maybe we'll take you back, again later.
Sure. So, we'll move on to the next question, which is from the line of Jinesh Gandhi from Ambit Capital. Please go ahead.
Yes, sir, two follow-ups. One is, you said, you don't expect freight costs to further reduce. However, we have seen a sequential increase in freight costs. So from the second quarter level, should there be reduction in freight costs in second half or, that 7.4% of sales is what, where it should sustain based on the current visibility?
There will be marginal reduction from the second quarter to third quarter.
Okay. Okay. And secondly, on the tax rate, so we have seen a reduction in tax rate on Q3, which even seems to be quite low. Is there any one-off in that, any tax side that which is for the prior period? And otherwise, how should we look at tax rate from a full year perspective?
In tax rate, it's the tax rate includes so many things, like, there are a lower tax, income also, like in investment.
Right.
And apart from this, there are other. You can take it like at unrealized forex gain/loss that we can add or less in the tax calculations. So that is the reason.
Okay. So about 23%-24% is where it should be overall, tax rate?
Yes.
23%. Got it. Got it. Great, sir. Thanks a lot for this.
Thank you. Before we take our next question, we would like to remind participants that you may press star and one to ask a question. Our next question is from the line of Sriram R, who's an individual investor. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Thank you for the opportunity. Sir, with, you know, this India-China border dispute, being resolved, so, you know, do we get to see some, you know, investments from Chinese players into our sector, or are we open to forming JVs with them? What is your sense?
No, we don't see any such investment, and we don't know if an opportunity comes, we will evaluate it at that time. But currently we don't have any particular opportunity to evaluate.
But you... Are you open to forming JVs with them or, you know, if you can give, elaborate on this to be-
We can't comment on that. If an opportunity comes, we will evaluate it and then take a call, but we cannot comment before and after, you know, we cannot speculate on that.
Okay. Thank you.
Thank you. Our next question is from the line of Ajox Frederick from Sundaram Mutual Fund. Please go ahead.
Hi, sir. Thanks for the opportunity. So sequentially, the realization has gone up, and you mentioned that you have not taken price hike during the quarter. So, is it due to the mix, improved mix, we are seeing increased realization?
Yes, it's a product mix and, hedge rates, both.
Understood, sir. Yeah, thank you, sir. That's it for me.
Thank you. A reminder to our participants that you may press star and one to ask a question. As there are no further questions from the participants, I now hand the conference over to Mr. Rajiv Poddar for closing comments.
Thank you once again to all the participants, and, we look forward to seeing you next quarter. And once again, wishing you a very, very happy Diwali. Thank you.
On behalf of Balkrishna Industries Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines.