Ladies and gentlemen, good day and welcome to the Vardhman Textiles Limited Q3 FY25 post-results earnings conference call hosted by Batlivala & Karani Securities India Pvt Ltd. 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 touch-tone phones. Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Roshan Nair from Batlivala & Karani Securities India Pvt Ltd. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Thank you. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to Q3 FY25 earnings conference call of Vardhman Textiles Limited. On behalf of B&K Securities, I welcome all participants and management of Vardhman Textiles to the call. We have with us today Mr. Neeraj Jain, Joint Managing Director, Ms. Sagrika Jain, Executive Director, Mr. Sushil Jhamb, Director of Raw Materials, Mr. Rajeev Thapar, CFO, Mr. Mukesh Bansal, Head of Fabric Marketing, and Mr. Varun Malhotra, Head of Finance. Without further ado, I would like to hand over the floor to Mr. Neeraj Jain for his opening remarks, post which we can have a Q&A session. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Q3 conference call on the results of the quarter. We had a board meeting today, and I'm sure the numbers you would have seen by this time, so the business continues to be. There are all ups and downs with the business. On one hand, spinning business is still struggling with the higher raw material compared to the international prices, whereas the fabric business is doing better, so as a result, the overall result of the company compared to the Q2 is a little low, but if we compare it with the corresponding quarters, we are definitely far better than the corresponding numbers, so in terms of the utilization, I think both businesses are doing good. For the businesses, in terms of the customer base, product base, or the utilization, the company is doing pretty good.
We have announced lots of capital expenditure last two quarters. That's all in place, and I think that's all going as per the plan only. So there are a few fresh CapEx which have been announced for the modernization, as well as for some sustainability, etc., etc. So we can straight come to the QA, and we can deliberate, and we can discuss all the issues which come by way of the QA one by one. Thank you very much.
Thank you. We will now begin with the question and answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask a question may press star and one on their touch-tone telephone. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press star and two. Participants are requested to use handsets 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 Awanish Chandra from SMIFS. Please go ahead.
Thank you very much for taking my question, and congratulations to the whole management team on decent performance continuation. Sir, my first question is on the margin front. I understand that spot spread and the company performance cannot be related to one-on-one, but cotton prices have gone down in Q3 and yarn prices, whatever industry data we look for, and there was a good spread versus Q2. There was a good improvement in the spread, but that is not getting reflected at all in sequential margin improvement. So could you highlight this thing, that whether we will have better improvement in Q4 with some delay or any other reason?
Yeah. If we look at Q2 versus Q3, when Q2 started, the New York Futures was also far better, and the international prices were also better. Over a period of the last two, three, four months, the New York Futures continued to come down, and it is now ruling in the range of about $0.67-$0.68 per pound. About the Indian prices, your point is right that Indian prices have come down from, because if you look at two, three, four months back, it was almost in the range of about INR 58,000-INR 60,000 a candy, which has now come down to INR 54,000.
So from that perspective, definitely there is an improvement in the Indian cotton prices, but as far as our company is concerned, that was not the case because we had bought the cotton last year, and the cotton which we were using in the second quarter was bought almost about a year back, and our average cost was in the same range of INR 53,000-INR 54,000 only. So though the market price of cotton was higher, so people were losing money. Whosoever was buying cotton at that stage, we were not losing money, but at the same time, the margin improvement did not happen for us because our actual cost was almost same in the second quarter versus third quarter. So that's why this is not showing any improvement. Two, the overall yarn prices also tumbled to some extent because of the New York Futures.
So I think since the yarn prices did not increase, cotton prices remained the same. So I think that's the reason the numbers could not be improved.
But we can hope for Q4, right? Because the lower cotton prices which is now, that will get reflected somewhere in our number, right?
Not really. Not really, because if we go by the, let's say, last six months versus next three months going by today's cotton position, there is no change in our cost of raw materials. So we bought the cotton, as I mentioned, in the last season at an average cost of INR 53,000-INR 54,000 a candy, which we have been using for the last six months. The current prices are also the same. So whatever we are buying today, even if we continue to use in the next three to four months' time, there is not likely to be any major improvement in the margins unless New York Futures increases or the yarn prices improve.
Okay, and last thing on this front, how much cotton inventory we are carrying?
So, it's the start of this season in India. It starts somewhere in October, November only. So, I think it's only about the last two months, two and a half months where the cotton is coming to the market. So, to that extent, I think we have started buying it slowly. I mean, generally, typically, we have a six-month stock or seven-month stocks by the end of 31st March. So, it looks like, going by today's pace, we may be close to that figure only.
Okay.
31st March. Yeah.
Okay. And sir, you have talked about CapEx in various conference calls and various press releases. Also, you have highlighted all the CapEx in bits and pieces. Just for clarity purpose, if you can just talk about this much CapEx in yarn, fabric, and modernization, and at what state all the projects are, that will be very helpful.
The total CapEx announced by the company is almost in the range of about INR 3,400 crores. Out of that, all the schemes we are working in, except one of the projects where the government approvals are still not there, that's close to about INR 400 crores or INR 500 crores. The work which is going on as of now is almost close to about INR 2,800 crores. That's all going as per schedule only. We expect that within this calendar year, maybe by November, December, this CapEx will get completed.
Okay. Thank you very much. I will come back in queue.
Thank you. A reminder to all participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Keshav Garg from Counter Cyclical Investments PMS. Please go ahead.
Sir, I'm trying to understand that you alluded to the fact that yarn prices also declined quarter on quarter. So if you could quantify that on a per-kg basis, what was the average yarn realization in the third quarter, and what is the average yarn realization at present, and what is our cost of cotton? I think you already answered that it's around INR 54 per kg, if I understood it correctly. So that's the first question.
If we look at six months back, the yarn prices were almost touching in the range of about $3.25 US cents or so per kg. Slowly, depending upon the position of the company, it kept coming down. As of now, the current prices of yarn are in the range of about $3 per kg of yarn.
Okay.
Sir, how has it changed quarter on quarter?
Second to third quarter?
No, sir. So from third quarter till today, that is fourth quarter.
No, no. So this price is third to fourth is only 15-20 basis points. So the prices are almost same today also.
Okay. And sir, so how is the demand situation? How is the demand supply situation for yarn, I mean, basically globally and as well as in India? And sir, by how long you think that the demand will take care of the excess supply so that our yarn spreads can go back to the pre-COVID level and where we used to do around 20%, 16%-20% EBITDA margin, which has now come down to 13%?
So I don't know. Where are you seeing this 13%?
No, sir. I'm saying that right now, our standalone EBITDA margin is around 13%. And sir, pre-COVID, if we look at FY 2016, 2017, so it used to be around 20% operating margin. Even in FY 2019, it was 18%. So what I'm trying to understand, and then this margin shot up during FY 2022, which was an aberration, and now it has come down to low to mid-teens. So what I'm trying to understand, that when will our yarn spread, when will they normalize?
Okay. Okay. So first question is on the demand and supply. Overall demand is okay. There is not much of a concern on the demand side. So I think in terms of international demand or domestic demand, it's reasonably okay. On the supply side, because of the very bad margins in the last two years, I think there are lots of small capacities, which we understand as the industry estimation has already stopped. So as per the estimation done by one of the large textile players, it is understood that almost six, six and a half million spindles have already stopped in India on a permanent basis, which is almost like 15% of India's capacity. And to that extent also, I think demand supply is getting adjusted. So from the demand side, I don't think there's really a big issue as of now.
Coming to the margins, why margins are lower for Indian textile players. Our raw material cost today is much higher than the international prices. If you look at the Indian cotton cost in India for the last 15, 20 years, it will always be on an average $0.04-$0.05 higher than New York Futures. But this is the time. Even today, New York Futures is at $0.67-$0.68. Indian cotton is available at $0.80. So we are $0.12 higher than the New York Futures. The yarn prices get established based upon the New York Futures, that anyone who is getting a cotton, let's say in Vietnam or in Bangladesh or in Indonesia, what is the cost of cotton for them and how did the pricing happen? So to that extent, Vietnamese spinner is still making money.
But when it comes to India, we have two issues which we have explained or discussed earlier also. The one issue is our cotton prices have become higher because of a minimum support price where the CCI is buying the cotton at a minimum support price from the market. As a result of that, our cotton cost today or the market price of cotton is today INR 54,000, which is equivalent to $0.80. Two, these situations once in a while have come earlier also, but at that stage, we used to import cotton in India, and it will neutralize all the excess costs over here. Unfortunately, we have an import duty on import of cotton, almost 11%, which was imposed by the government in the budget 2021. As a result of that, if we import any cotton in India, it's going to be 11% higher.
These are the two reasons. The Indian cost today is much higher compared to the world markets, so the situation will not improve by demand and supply only till the time our raw material prices come down to normal, and this is the reason our margins are low at the moment. Our raw material price comes in line with the international markets. I think the margins would improve immediately after that, so it's nothing to do with the demand supply. It's more to do with the raw material cost, which is much more expensive in India compared to any other part of the world today.
If we see pre-COVID, sir, so then was the situation different? I mean, then what is today? Because I understand the MSP used to be then also, and Cotton Corporation used to buy cotton then also. So basically, what has changed from pre-COVID to now?
There are three things which have changed. One, New York futures used to be in the range of about $0.75-$0.80. Even if the MSP was increasing over here, the Indian MSP was still lower than the international parity. As a result, it was not impacting us. Today, New York futures is at $0.68, whereas the Indian cotton or the MSP of Indian cotton is almost equivalent to $0.80 today. Our cost has become higher. One, New York futures has come down. Two, India is increasing the MSP every year from 5%-7%. Three years, we have increased it almost by 18%-20%. With the international prices not going up, we have become costlier compared to the world markets.
And the only correct course for the Indian spinning industry was to import cotton so that our cost is not higher than the world market, even though the MSP could be higher. But unfortunately, 2021, there is an import duty which was imposed by the government in the budget of 2021. So we can't import also. So last three years, our situation of raw material has actually gone against us. So all three factors are forcing spinning industry not to do good in India.
Right. Understood. Thank you very much.
Thank you. A reminder to all participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Pankaj Bobade from Affluent Assets. Please go ahead.
Thanks for taking our question. I'm audible?
Yeah, yeah.
Sir, how is the situation in Bangladesh? Is Indian textile industry benefiting from the turmoil out there?
So Bangladesh's condition is okay. There have been some instances where there are some disturbances in different parts of the country. But if you look at their export figures, their overall production or our sales, the Indian yarn going to Bangladesh, there is no reduction in that. And we understand from our various customers, they are running full capacity. So as such, there doesn't seem to be any major concern from the Bangladesh perspective.
Okay. Thank you, sir.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Vikram Suryavanshi from PhillipCapital. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Good evening, sir. Obviously, we understand the impact of very high cost of raw material for cotton, how it has impacted our yarn export, which used to be on a monthly basis, how is our export volume is concerned. That I think would be helpful. And should I ask a second question now or after that?
So Indian yarn export, we used to do almost 100 million kg of exports from India as a country. So in this period also, if you look at last 10 months, 15 months, our average export from India is in the range of about 100 million kg only. So there's no reduction as far as the export is concerned from India.
Okay, so basically, volume has remained, but margin is under pressure.
Correct. Correct. Correct.
Okay. In terms of capacity utilization in fabric, how much it is and how we can look at export opportunity in fabric going forward?
One second. Fabric utilization.
Currently.
Currently going forward.
Currently, our fabric utilization is at almost 100%. As you rightly know, we've already planned for our line for another production line expansion in our plant, and the expansion should be coming at around September this calendar year.
Okay. And would it be possible to share what would be the mix within fabric in terms of raw material between cotton and, say, synthetic?
Our new production line expansion, the one that I just spoke about, would be more cotton and cotton-based.
Okay. Expansion is also cotton. And within our spindles, is there an ability to convert some of the spindles into synthetic blends the way we are seeing demand is growing for particularly some of the blends and all?
We are already doing that, but unfortunately, even on the blended yarn, there is a problem because we have a law in India now where any import of polyester or viscose, we require to get approval from BIS, Bureau of Indian Standards. As a result, which has to be certified by the government or BIS, even for the factories which are situated outside. As a result of that, there is no registration the government is doing. As a result of that, there is no import of polyester or viscose coming in India. So today, the Indian prices of polyester or viscose are almost costlier by about 10%-15% compared to any spinner which is getting it either in Vietnam or in China.
Unfortunately, this non-tariff which has been imposed, and as a result of that, we are not really very, very competitive on those products also in the world markets.
Understood, sir. But, sir, I think while listening to you, then if you look at when we are talking about increasing the export for India, and we have disadvantage of almost 11% in cotton, again, 10%-15% disadvantage in synthetic, won't you think it will be a major bottleneck for our target for export and how the industry is looking to address this issue?
It's a big concern because exports can happen only if the manufacturing sector keeps improving, so on the spinning side, we are very clearly looking at there's no expansion happening, and if you look at the machinery manufacturers today, they are all running at an average utilization of 40%-50% only, so one, there is no expansion happening, two, as I mentioned earlier, as per the industry estimate only, almost 6 million-6.5 million spindles are stopped, and remaining also is still since we are not making money, most of the spinning sector, so the modernizations are also not happening, so I think as of now, there seems to be a concern till the time the government decides on the basic raw materials.
Okay. And last question on how is the cotton production outlook?
So cotton, the cotton cultivation came down by about 7-8% last year. But at the same time, I think the weather has been favorable. So it looks like last year, the total crop was almost 31 million bales in India. It looks like though the government has given or the CAI has given an estimation of 29.8 million bales, but there could be a possibility that's going to almost 31 million bales as well. So in terms of crop size, we can be comparable to the last year, it looks like as of now.
Understood. Yeah, but because the prices are below MSP, is there any fear that farmers can divert to other crop next season?
Not really because the prices are lower than MSP. The farmer doesn't have any impact on the same because CCI is buying. So example today, this season, the total 17 million bales have come to the market till now, and almost 50% has been if not 50, 45% has been procured by the CCI only. So farmer, there is no issue or a concern to the farmer because they are in a position to get the MSP, whether the market buys or CCI buys. So CCI has been buying, and today, they'll have one of the biggest stock available to them, almost 7.5 million bales or so. So out of 17 million bales which have come, CCI procured 7.5 million, and they are all holding it into their stock as of now. That itself shows the market is not ready to buy at these prices.
Got it. Yeah. That was very helpful, sir. Thank you very much.
Okay.
Thank you. A reminder to all participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Rupam from InvestWell Agents Private Limited. Please go ahead.
Hello.
Hello.
Yes, Rupam, please go ahead.
Hi sir. Actually, I missed the part regarding the CapEx plan. So could you just provide in detail what kind of CapEx and what is the ongoing CapEx and upcoming CapEx plan with the timeline?
CapEx timeline. So we announced a normal CapEx of INR 850 crore rupees, one of these teams, which is going on as per schedule, and we expect it to be completed by September this year or maybe June this year. In addition to that, we announced a 100% synthetic filament-based product. That's about INR 350 crore. That's also as per the schedule, and we expect it to be commissioned within this calendar year itself. In addition to that, we have announced almost INR 600 crore rupees for the sustainable or the green power. All that CapEx is also likely to be completed within this calendar year. In addition to that, we announced a fourth line of our fabric processing with a cost of almost about INR 400 crore rupees. That will also get completed within this calendar year itself.
In addition to that, today, we have announced another CapEx of almost INR 400 crore, and that also we are expecting it to be completed within this calendar year. So except one open-end project of almost about INR 450 crore where we yet to get the approvals from the government, I think all remaining INR 2,800 crore is going as per schedule, and within next 8 to 9 months' time or 10 months' time, most of this will be completed.
Okay. Thank you, sir. That was my question.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Nirav Savai from Abakkus. Please go ahead. Nirav, please go ahead.
Hello?
Yes, Nirav, please go ahead.
Yeah. So my question was the total CapEx you said is about INR 2,400 crore, right?
2,400.
And of that, INR 850 crore is can you just give us a breakup? As in, you said green power is about INR 600 crore. And filament yarn, you said about INR 400 crore, right?
So the normal CapEx of yarn and fabric is almost about INR 1,200 crore. INR 600 crore is the green power. INR 400 crore for the fabric expansion of existing lines. Another INR 400 crore for the 100% synthetic fabric business. And another about INR 500 crore on the open-end project, which I said as of now is on hold.
Okay. So if I look at this ongoing INR 1,200 crore CapEx, which is beyond fabric and yarn, what kind of capacity do we see this post-completion, or is it replacement of existing machines?
So on the spinning side, it's all replacement of the existing machines, except maybe some marginal improvements can come into that. On the fabric side, the weaving capacity of INR 400 crore will add about 30 million-31 million meters per annum capacity, and the 100% synthetic product will have 15 million meters per annum capacity.
Okay. So synthetic is about 15 million meters, right?
15 million synthetic, 31 million cotton line.
Cotton. And this fabric expansion, which you said separately, 400. So how different is this?
No, that's the same. Existing line.
So it's a part of the INR 1,200 crores only?
Yes.
Okay. Got it. All right. Thank you.
It is only modernization CapEx.
Thank you, Nirav. The next question is from the line of Mohammed Patel from Care Portfolio Managers Private Limited. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Hi. Sir, I just wanted clarity. You said procurement cost of cotton for current year is almost similar to last year at INR 53,000-INR 54,000.
Yes.
Okay. Now, my next question is related to margins. So with the ongoing CapEx, which is focused on modernization and green energy, which is going to lead to cost benefits, so can this lead to the margins improving from current 13% to 15% by FY 2027?
We are hoping because all this CapEx, which is being done, definitely there should be an improvement in the margins on two accounts. There will be cost reduction because of the modernization. And also, since there will be more flexible, there could be a possibility for us to do more value-added products as well. So hope is just only that this kind of modernization or the EBITDA should improve by 2%-3%. Let's look at that.
It should happen starting FY 27?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sure.
Thank you.
Thank you. A reminder to all participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Ritwik Sheth from OneUp Financial Consultants Private Limited. Please go ahead.
Hi. Good evening, sir. So just one question. So what is the cotton yarn spread in Q3 versus Q2?
So it's in the spread, if you look at the Indian cotton, almost in the range of about $0.70 per kg of yarn.
$0.70 per kg of yarn for us in Q3?
Yeah.
That would be Q2 would be closer to 60?
Q2 was almost, I mean, a little better or I would say almost comparable.
Okay, so around $0.70 only?
Yeah.
Sir, earlier you had mentioned that at $1 for.
Yeah. So if you look at 321, it used to be the benchmark, always used to be about $1.
Okay. So basically, at $1, you would make enough money to expand in spinning capacity.
Correct.
You would be incentivized to, and that would get corrected if the cotton prices are in line with the New York Futures as they were earlier.
Correct.
Okay. Okay, sir. That's it from my side. Thank you and all the best.
Thank you. A reminder to all participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. Participants, please press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Monish Ghodke from HDFC Mutual Fund. Please go ahead.
Sir, in the opening remarks, you highlighted that polyester prices in India are expensive 10%-15% as compared to global prices, and since we are doing CapEx in man-made fabric, so how do you plan to price this product? Will it be at par with global prices, or it will be higher, and what kind of segment are we targeting here?
Hi. So regarding raw materials for our filament, for our synthetic project, so yes, as compared to the rest of the world, prices in India can be higher. So we do plan to have a local base and an import base as well. So we are currently exploring what options are. Like Taiwan is there, China is there, Korea is also there, Japan is there. So that exploration is happening. At the same time, we will be working alongside the domestic players and developing certain products which may not be available. What was your second question?
So what kind of segment are we targeting? Is it for export? I mean, garmenters who will be exporting, or it will be for domestic? And I mean, many times when we speak with garmenters, they say that good quality processed fabric is not available in India, which is at par with global standards. So are we striving for that kind of segment, maybe athleisure wear or something like that?
Woven synthetics would more be outerwear. The jackets that we have, wind cheaters, that would be the segment. It will be a mix of domestic and export both.
Okay. Okay. But the pricing will be at par with global prices, right?
30% is out of BIS. So we should be okay. And also, apart from that, there is weaving and there is processing. So we will be selling high value-added products. So we will try to counteract and mitigate the impact of raw material prices.
Okay. And so pardon me if you have answered these questions before, but this modernization CapEx of INR 330 crores we are doing, are there any spending addition which is happening?
Not really, so some small changes. There is more of a modernization where the existing machineries are being replaced with the newer ones to take advantage of utility costs or maybe automation, reduction of manpower, or reduction of power, etc., etc.
But sir, this will be a part of your regular maintenance CapEx, right? I mean.
Normally, our regular maintenance CapEx is about INR 150 crore per year. This time, since it was much larger than our normal CapEx, so that's why we have disclosed this to the stock market.
So this is like our maintenance INR 250 crore plus, this is INR 330 crores, right? And sir, you don't.
Hello?
Hello?
Yeah.
Okay. Now, I'm saying, is this continued to be there? I mean, is it expected to be? Could you throw some light? What is the average age of our spindles and how much maintenance CapEx now we have to do going forward due to modernization?
Average age of our spinning machine part would be in the range of about 10 years now. So normally, I think going forward, the normal CapEx or the replacement for CapEx, to my mind, should not be more than INR 150crores-INR 200 crores per year.
Okay. Okay. Thank you, sir.
Thank you. Participants, please press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Prerna Jhunjhunwala from Elara Capital. Please go ahead.
Thank you. Thank you, sir. So just wanted to understand, what will be the revenue addition and profit addition that you're looking from this entire CapEx of around 3,400 crores?
So on the spinning side, I don't think there's any revenue addition which is likely to happen. Even the green power, I don't think there's any top-line increase will happen. So the top-line increase will happen only with the 45million -46 million meters capacity, which will be added to our existing capacity. So INR 150 per meter versus 45 million meters.
45 million meters is the processing capacity that we are adding.
Yeah.
Or INR 31 crore was the number, right? Or it is?
No, INR 31 crore plus INR 15 crore of synthetic.
Okay. Synthetic. Okay. Understood. And sir, with this replacement, what kind of efficiency improvement or margin improvement, 200 basis points margin improvement that you mentioned earlier in the call, is it doable or eventually, because of market forces, it can be passed on to the customers?
That's a nervous guess. I can't really comment on that, what would happen with the market forces. And so in today's circumstances, had whatever we are doing, had that been available today, our margins would have been better by 200-300 basis points. Now, the market.
200 basis points is also possible.
200 basis points is surely possible, but what will happen to the market, we can't really comment on that. It can be better. It can be worse also. So that's beyond our control.
Okay. Understood, sir. And sir, at current, in the synthetic business, what kind of margins are we looking at? Because this is a specialized product that we're doing for outerwear, jackets, and all. Is the margin better than the existing fabric business, or is it in line with that?
What I understand, there are two segments to that. One is the basic replacement of apparel fabric. Second is a specialized product. We are going to be the new entrant in this, and we have to learn this business as well. So my feeling is, as we keep understanding the business, we'll start moving towards more and more value-added products. And on the technical textile, definitely margins can be 25%, 30%, 35% as well. But it will take us some time to learn it, develop it, create the market for that, and it's only beyond that. On the basic products, it could be in line with our existing margins of the fabric apparel business.
Okay. So that's really helpful. Thank you and all the best.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Mohammed Patel from Care Portfolio Managers Private Limited. Please go ahead.
Sir, do you expect cotton yarn spread to improve in near term? So are there any factors which can turn favorable?
So basically, there are only two, three factors which can help us. One, if the New York futures goes to about $0.74-$0.75, things will start improving in India. That could be one trigger. Second is, rupees goes to, let's say, INR 90, and in US cents, our cotton prices come down. That could be another trigger. Third is, government takes any view on allowing the import of cotton duty-free. Even then, our margins could be better. Other than all, our overall demand improves much better than the existing demand. So these are all macro-level issues to our macro level and to our related with the government of India. So it's really, really very difficult for me to comment.
I think the only doable or possible thing looks like if a New York Futures improves by about 500-600 basis points, definitely things will start improving in India also.
Okay, sir. Thank you.
Thank you. Participants, please press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Anik Mitra from Finnomics. Please go ahead.
Good evening, sir. Am I audible?
Yeah, yeah.
Thanks for the opportunity. Sir, what is the current yarn and cotton spread in Indian currency terms?
So even in the Indian cotton, the yarn spread is, what I mentioned, $0.70-$0.72. And if you calculate it with the rupee of INR 85, it will be close to about INR 60.
INR 60. Okay. Sir, considering the current Bangladesh situation, so do you think that the garmenting opportunity like Bangladesh is a major player in the garmenting? So is there any opportunity if Bangladesh loses market share in the U.S., Indian companies can capture that market share?
First of all, as I mentioned earlier, also, if we go by the Bangladeshi numbers of exports, there is no reduction, and rather, they are improving it only. So it looks like there doesn't seem to be any concern on a macro-level basis. Maybe some areas, some companies, the issue could be there. But if you go by their numbers, I think it's not reducing at all. Two, Bangladesh has become a very big player, and their export has already touching almost $40 billion-$42 billion as of now, whereas the Indian garmenting export is only about $15 billion. It looks like Bangladesh, in like five to six years, can touch maybe about $75 billion-$80 billion also because of two major reasons. One, they have an advantage of GSP, where Europe has allowed them to do duty-free exports.
Two, in garmenting, the labor cost plays a very, very important role, and it is almost about 25% in the garmenting. 20%-25% is the labor cost only. Indian labor cost today is close to about $200 per person per month, whereas Bangladesh is still ranging about $100 or so. So they have a huge advantage of much less labor cost. As a result, they are competitive compared to India. Third, for any business to create capacity, one is opportunity. Second is the margins. I think we do not have those capacities which are required by the world markets as of now. So if there is a major concern happening in Bangladesh, probably that opportunity can come to India. But as of now, they are continuing to grow in a big way because of the two advantages which I mentioned to you.
But yet, if the situation goes out of control or goes very bad over there, I'm sure the brand starts looking at the different countries. And amongst those countries, India could also be one of the participants to take advantage of that. But that's not visible as of now, at least.
Got it, sir. Thank you so much for your elaborate answer. Thank you, sir.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of AWanish Chandra from SMIFS. Please go ahead. Please go ahead, Awanish. And unmute your line in case if you.
Am I audible?
Yes.
Thank you very much for taking my question again, sir. We are hearing a lot of good soundbite for textile industry in the budget. People are talking about the budget 10%-15% higher budget for textile, and then government may reduce some duties on man-made side raw materials. So any assessment on those budgeting and any benefit that Vardhman can draw from the budget?
I think it will be too premature for me to comment on what the government is going to do in the budget. We are left with only less than two weeks as of now. So let's wait and watch, please.
Okay, sir. Thank you.
Thank you. Participants, please press star and one to ask a question. A reminder to all participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. Participants, please press star and one to ask a question. Participants, please press star and one to ask a question. Ladies and gentlemen, as there are no further questions for today, I would now like to hand the conference over to the management for the closing comments.
So thanks to all the investing community which have shown confidence in us and been a part of the company for a long period of time. So there is concern on the overall spinning industry specifically, but at the same time, our fabric division is doing very, very good, both in terms of utilization and the profitability also. We are also hopeful going by the industry situation, government will take some decisions sooner or later. And in the meantime, whatever best can be done in terms of the internal efficiencies, operational efficiencies, or the customer base or the trust rate, the company is really, really working very hard to achieve that so that even in these kinds of difficult times, we can pass through this time profitably or with better margins compared to the industry peers.
I'm sure as the situation improves or as any favorable decision comes in, suddenly we'll look at a better improvement in the margins also, but in the meantime, we are preparing ourselves, notwithstanding with a difficult situation. Our CapEx is one of the highest this year. We believe that sooner or later, things will be better, and definitely, going by the patronage of our customers' products, we are surely much more hopeful for the future, and we believe we can add lots of value for the overall textile chain in India, so thanks once again for your patience as well as your stability in the company with your shareholding, and I'm sure as management, we will not leave any stone unturned to pass through this difficult time also. Thank you very much.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of Batlivala and Karani Securities India Private Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines.