Ladies and gentlemen, good day and welcome to the JK Cement Limited earnings conference call for the quarter and year ended 31st March 2026, hosted by PhillipCapital India Private Limited. 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 this conference, 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. Vaibhav Agarwal from PhillipCapital India Private Limited. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Thank you, Robin. Good evening, everyone. On behalf of PhillipCapital India Private Limited, we welcome you to the Q4 and FY 2026 call of JK Cement Limited. On the call, we have with us Mr. Ajay Kumar Saraogi, Deputy Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Prashant Seth, President, Business Information and Investor Relations at JK Cement. I would like to mention on behalf of JK Cement and its management that certain statements that may be made or discussed on today's conference call may be forward-looking statements related to future developments and statements which are based on current management expectations. These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other important factors which may cause actual developments and results to differ materially from the statements made. JK Cement Limited and the management of the company assume no obligation to publicly update or upgrade these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise. I will now hand over the floor to the management of JK Cement for the opening remarks before we open it up to Q&A. Thank you, and over to you, Saraogi sir.
Thank you, Vaibhav. Good evening, welcome to Q4 and annual call. The Board of Directors met on 23rd of May to review the working for the quarter ended 31st March 2026 and the year ended 31st March 2026. The major highlights, during the quarter, the net sale has increased by 15% at INR 3,614 crores as compared to INR 3,132 crores vis-à-vis the previous quarter, year-on-year, it was higher by 11%. The previous year, the turnover was INR 3,261. Year-on-year, the net sale has increased by 16% at INR 12,568 crores as compared to INR 10,802 crores. The EBITDA during this quarter was INR 670 crores as compared to INR 536 crores in the previous quarter, an increase of 25%. However, it was lower by 9% year-on-year as the previous year number was INR 736. Year-on-year, the EBITDA is higher by 18% at INR 2,318 crores as compared to INR 1,968 crores.
The EBITDA margins for this quarter were 18.5%, previous quarter, 17.1%. year-on-year, 22.5%. For the full year, the EBITDA margins were 18.5% as compared to 18.2% in the previous year. The profit after tax was INR 345 crore for this quarter, as compared to INR 181 crore in the previous quarter, an increase of 91%, and it was lower by 17% as previous year it was INR 412 crore. For the full year, the profit after tax was INR 1,033 crore as compared to INR 851 crore in the previous year, an increase of 21%. The earning per share was INR 44.60 in this quarter, and for the annual it was INR 133.70 as compared to INR 110.1. The Board of Directors also proposed a dividend of INR 20 per share, subject to the approval of the shareholders.
If you look at the status of the project, during this quarter, the company has commissioned the greenfield expansion at Buxar in Bihar. With this, the total 6 million tonnes capacity expansion taken up in Central India gets commissioned. Also increased the capacity of the plant at Muddapur by 1 million tonnes 3.5 million tonnes to 4.5 million tonnes. We started the work on the new greenfield project at Jaisalmer, 4 million tonnes integrated clinker capacity at Jaisalmer, along 3 million tonnes grinding and 2 million tonnes each grinding locations at Bikaner and one in Punjab. Here also, the work for the integrated plant is in advanced stage. The civil construction and erection work is progressing well. The project cost for the integrated unit works is expected around INR 3,630 crore. We have already spent about INR 742 crore up to March. We expect the commissioning in H1 of FY 2028.
The work on the grinding station at Bikaner, the order for main plant and equipment has already been placed. The construction work at the site has begun. Here also, we expect the commissioning in H1 2028. For the grinding units at Punjab, we have already acquired the land. The other approvals are in process. We have already placed order for main plant and equipment. Here also, we expect that this would also get commissioned in H1 2028. The company had also taken up for installation of a 6 lakh ton Wall Putty plant at Nathdwara in Rajasthan. The work is in advanced stage of completion. We expect that by September, this plant should get commissioned. If we see the balance sheet position, the gross debt as on 31st March is INR 5,136 crores. The net cash is INR 1,765 crores. The net debt is INR 3,370 crores.
The net debt to EBITDA is 1.45x. The equity is INR 6,961. The net debt to equity is 0.48x. These are the major highlights. We will be pleased to address your queries. Thank you.
Thank you very much. We will now begin the question- and- answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask a question may press star and one on your touchtone telephone. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press star and two. Participants are requested to please use handsets while asking a question. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now wait for a moment while the question queue assembles. Our first question is from the line of Harsh Mittal with Emkay Global. Please go ahead.
Yeah, thank you. Good evening to the team. My first question pertains to the employee expenses. It grew 25% YoY. I believe majority of this inflation could be attributed towards the commissioning of the grinding units. Were there any other one-off expenses included in employee expenses because there is approximately INR 32 crores of sequential rise in the expense cost? This is my first question.
Yeah, as far as employees, that's the commissioning of the new plant in Central India, which has been done in this year. Earlier, the salaries were all capitalized. It has gone into revenue. On account of increased business requirement also, there have been additional manpower requirements. Normal increments also impact is there. Because of the labor code also, whatever is their impact during the year, that is also provided in this quarter. There is also one-time some liability pertaining to the free travel assistance. That is also provided in this quarter.
Can we safely assume a sustainable run rate of INR 260 crores going ahead or there is some dilution there is probability of dilution in the employee expenses?
We feel that around INR 250 crore or so. What would happen, even on this base number, there would be an increment impact of the annual increment with effect from 1st April. That impact is we have already declared our annual increment, and that impact is around 10%. There would be other business requirements, certain additional manpower would be required. Even Nimbahera, the project will get commissioned in September, some manpower increase, it would be there also. We do expect that from the whole year number of say INR 937 crore, there could be about 12%-14% increase year-on-year.
Right. Second question is on the other expenses. Again, you have mentioned in the PPT that there is an increase in advertising expenses and packing costs. What is the component of the packing cost in the INR 80 crores rise in the other expenses?
Packing cost, the composition is that it has increased on two accounts. One is because of the volumes, and second is because of the price. Combined impact is around INR 30 crores.
Got it. Last question is on the incidental income. It seems to be a bit lower than the guidance provided in the earlier quarters, around INR 75 crores. What is the reason for the same, sir? Can we assume the same run rate going ahead, or should we expect any pickup?
There is a reduction in the incentive. One, the eligible unit there is incentive has already been availed for the full 10 years. Because of reduction in GST. In case of Rajasthan, we're not able to avail the incentive because we are getting the embedded credit on the GST. We can't avail, the input credit is being done on the project. As a result, we are not able to claim the incentive and that GST input credit we get immediately.
Got it. Sure, sir. I'll call back in the queue. Thank you for your question. Thank you.
Thank you. Participants to ask a question may press star and one. Our next question is on the line of Amit from Axis Capital. Please go ahead.
Hi. Thanks for the opportunity. One, I just wanted to understand the White Cement outlook. I believe White Cement was also coming from your U.A.E. plant, which is impacted because of the geopolitical situation. What is the outlook on White Cement volumes for FY 2027 and particularly in the near term? That is the first question.
One, as far as the domestic White Cement is concerned, since we will be able to meet out the entire demand from the domestic production. Yes, we were feeding as it was more economical, certain regions in the south from U.A.E. At this point of time, we are feeding that from Gotan plant. We don't see losing any market of White Cement on account of the present geopolitical situation.
Has the pricing increased because the flow has reduced from?
Yes. We have been able to increase the prices of both White Cement and Wall Putty on account of increase in the input cost. The chemical costs have increased substantially, so we have been trying to pass on the cost increase to the customer.
Sure. What is the CapEx guidance for FY 2027, 2028?
For this year, the CapEx should be in the range of INR 3,500 crores-INR 4,000 crores.
Okay. Next year?
Next year it could be INR 1,500 crores-INR 2,000 crores.
Understood. That's it. I'll come back to you.
Thank you. Participants may press star and one to ask a question. Our next question is on the line of Rajesh Ravi from HDFC Securities. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Hi, sir. Good evening. Am I audible?
Yeah. Go ahead.
Yeah. Great. Some of my questions have been answered. On the incentives, what was the incentive accrued in Q4, and what is the outstanding on books as of March?
I just tell you the Q4 incentive. The outstanding as on 31st March is close to about INR 300 crores. In this quarter it is about INR 29 crores.
Oh, okay. This INR 29 crore-INR 30 crore could be the assumed run rate here on in subsequent quarters?
It would not be the assumed run rate. What is happening, because of the GST input credit.
For north, we are not able to take the incentive which we were getting for Nimbahera. That loss will be there. Whole year we got a incentive of about INR 230 crores. This year we should close to about INR 250 crores-INR 260 crores because Bihar, we are not accruing the incentive as on the date, because our policy is once we get the sanction letters, then only we start accruing it. We expect the sanction letter, the Bihar incentive would also come in. Whenever we get the sanction letter, we will account for the incentive for Bihar. Other grinding units also now for Prayagraj, Hamirpur, and all, we shall be getting the incentive. We feel that it will be around INR 250 crores for FY 2027.
Understood. Sir, just for clarification, the sanction letter is just a formality or you will start and hence you will start reporting it or accruing it once you get the sanction letter or you're eligible to accrue it now and only you will report it when you get the sanction letter?
As our accounting, unless you have a document which the scheme says you are eligible. Right? The sanction letter says now it's an official allotment. After receipt of the sanction letter, we will submit our application to get the amount from the state government. It is only as a prudent accounting policy, we account for. We start accruing in the books of accounts, though it will be from the back date, but only after receipt of the sanction letter from the government.
Understood. Sir, second question, which even on the current geopolitical situation, the cost increases. Given that INR 150 sort of cost increase everyone is looking at in Q1 versus Q4 on the raw material cost side, how much of that have been passed on in the month of April and May?
We could say that because you had inventory and other things in the month of April, in the May, we would have on an average a price increase of about INR 10 a bag.
INR 10 would mean, say, 18% less of that.
Got it.
Broadly, it is passed on, as on date.
Okay
Is what we could say.
Understood.
But we are-
Yes.
How we are going to pass on the new impact of diesel and all, which we have to wait and watch.
Okay. Understood. Sir, second with the Jaypee plant, the 5 million tonnes would get operational somewhere this year. Do you see the competitive intensity would increase in the Central market, which is already reeling under margin pressure because of multiple companies ramping up capacities?
No, we don't see. Again, it is not something we were not expecting. This was already there for past three, four years. In fact, Dalmia earlier had already started sending material and seeding the market.
Correct
They could not. This is something not as a surprise, but now it has come. Okay, we will address it as it comes. We don't see immediately large volumes coming up.
Okay.
We will see that even they will be able to It's only from beginning of Q3 that you should start seeing some material coming from the Jaypee plants.
Correct. Okay. Understood. Sir, two questions just on the, again, similar trajectory for Rajasthan market where a lot of capacities are coming up during FY 2028. How would that market shape up in terms of volume and pricing FY 2028 onwards?
Again, see, I'm saying we are well-prepared. When we took the expansion, we had factored in that competition would definitely intensify.
We are prepared for it. We are confident. We have strengthened our team processes. We have planned how we'll seed the market. I mean, strengthen, not seed, we're already there in the market.
Correct.
How will we consolidate our position in the market, and how will we send our material from Jaisalmer and the two grinding units. This is an opportunity for us. We will be serving the market now. Earlier, there was only practically one source of supply, only coming from Nimbahera, Mangrol, which is one entity, if you look at technically. Now you will have three more locations, and we will have advantage on serving the market in shorter distance, which we will be able to have a better market grip and improve upon our market share. We are very confident of that.
Even after the commissioning of all those capacities.
No
We has the highest utilization levels.
Correct.
That would be slightly reduced by, say, around 4%-5%.
Would again remain higher than the overall average for the country as a whole.
Agree. Understood.
Anything, any update on the Saifco expansion and Toshali, the Odisha expansion plans?
No. At this point, no plan for expansion. For Odisha, we have not got any mining lease as yet. As and when mining lease comes, then we will think about the expansion with timelines. As of now, there is nothing. Even for Saifco, though we have the mining lease, first we will stabilize our position in the market, stabilize the plant, and start earning profit from there, and then we will look at the expansion.
Yes, sir. Nice to hear those. Thank you, and I'll follow back with you.
Thank you.
To ask a question, you may press star and one. Our next question is from the line of Parvez Qazi with Nuvama Group. Please go ahead.
Hi, good afternoon, sir. Congratulations for the great performance, and thanks for taking my question. My first question is regarding our expectation for FY 2027 in terms of volume growth in the Grey Cement business.
We should be in FY 2027, we should also be growing in a double-digit growth. We expect the market to grow, say, around 6%-8%. As far as our volumes are concerned, as we said, we should get definitely 2.5 million tonnes incremental volume, maybe more.
That's great to hear, sir. The second question is regarding the progress on the cost reduction front. Any commentary on that or the date?
As we have already achieved the major cost savings, but this is ongoing. We see another INR 50, which we should get in this fiscal, mainly driven by stay on the green power and on AFR in the South and the North plants.
Sure, sir. Last question, what was our fuel mix in Q4?
See, we were using, based on the heat value, around 50% of the pet coke, 12% is the alternate fuels, balance is the Indian coal.
Great, sir. Thanks and all the best.
Thank you. Our next question is from the line of Pathanjali Srinivasan with Sundaram Mutual Fund. Please go ahead. Hello. Pathanjali Srinivasan, your line is unmuted. You may proceed with your question. As we're not receiving a response from the current participant, we will proceed to the next participant. Our next question is from the line of Tejas Pradhan with Citigroup. Please go ahead.
Yeah, hi sir, most of my questions were answered, just a couple more. On the recent limestone block that you have won in Andhra Pradesh that you acquired, any color on any update to our medium-term expansion plans based off this block? I mean, what's the reserves here? If you are planning to add any capacity in [audio distortion].
No, we may just see again, limestone deposits are being looked at and have been acquired looking into way forward, how we would like to expand and become a more national player. As of now, see, we already have a plan for 2030. I mean, this limestone of Telangana may be our next phase of expansion.
Okay, understood. What's the limestone reserves over here in this block?
500 million tonnes.
Okay. Understood. Just one more question on the cost savings guidance that you have given, INR 50 per ton this year. Does this include generally, you have a cost benefit when the new commissioned plants ramp up, right? Because you have been feeding the East India market through your other capacity, right? You would have waste heat recovery, et cetera, coming up in this plant. Does this include this thing or some additional cost benefit could come from?
No, naturally, these are for the existing operations. When we look at what are the initiatives. One is increasing. See, whatever we optimize on the existing waste heat, that is part of the cost saving. Installation of new waste heat is not part of the saving.
Okay, could there be any additional benefit from the Central India ramp-up that you could get?
Central India ramp-up cost benefit will definitely be there. It's when it's reflected because Central India, we have a major cost advantage in that region.
Okay, understood. Just one last question. Could you share the consolidated cash balance as of FY 2026?
Actually, our standalone and consolidated cash balance is the same because the subsidiaries are mainly Saifco and Fujairah, where there's no cash balance as such.
Okay. Thanks.
Thank you. To ask a question, you may press star then one. Our next question is from the line of Siddharth with Kotak Securities. Please go ahead.
Thank you for the opportunity, sir. One of our peers mentioned that they're having some regulatory clearance issues in Punjab, which is also the location for one of our plants. I just wanted to check, are we sort of also anticipating some similar issues, particularly with the fact that there may be election related slowdown there?
As of now, it's very difficult to say, but we don't foresee wherever what we have identified that there should be any issues. If there are, we will inform everyone. As of now, there are no issues.
Understood, sir. That is very clear. Secondly, sir, just wanted to get a sense of what sort of cost inflation we are looking at. Could you just break it down perhaps into different segments such as fuel, packaging, et cetera?
As far as fuel is concerned, yes, it is an impact, but every day situation changes. Even as of now, today you see the situation. Again, it will take some time. Even to get things normalized, it will take about three to four months. I don't think so that what will be the fuel situation for supplies. Whatever we have new orders which we have already secured up to September. We have to have a planning till September. That inflation, that cost trend, we have already informed you that it's about INR 150 and it may go up to INR 200. There are other cost increases on account of whatever is the diesel price increase, because that has, whatever it comes, that has an impact. We do not know what could be the impact of that.
Again, our effort would be that we would try to pass on that increase.
Got it.
The packing cost, it was there, but now it has already reduced. The packing impact which was there sudden because of increased demand, and now the alternatives have already been worked out and the packing cost factor which was there, that has reduced I think substantially. It has been addressed.
Understood, sir. Sir, if I may, say in the recent, say 10- odd days, we've had a very substantial increase in diesel prices, about INR 8-INR 10 per liter. What sort of impact does this sort of increase have on your prices? Just a ballpark figure will do.
As of now, whatever increase has taken place, there has not been any significant impact, maybe about INR 10. There is already some shortage in the market of diesel. It is a trend, but now there's been an increase announced only yesterday. We have to see what is coming in the pipeline, how much we have to pass on. It will depend. We have to wait and watch.
Understood, sir. Just the last two, three questions. Sir, what was your paints revenue and EBITDA for this quarter?
The paint top line was INR 380 crores.
Around INR 40 crores.
INR 40+ crores loss was there in the paint business.
Got it, sir. We expect it to break even next year?
Yes. Now we expect a top line of INR 500 crore-INR 550 crore in this fiscal. With the improvement in the gross margins and other things, we expect that this year we should have a break-even or maybe a marginal EBITDA. Definitely.
Got it. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, you may press star and one to ask a question. Our next question is from the line of Pathanjali Srinivasan with Sundaram Mutual Fund. Please go ahead.
I am audible.
Pathanjali, you're not clearly audible.
Is it better now?
Much better. Please go ahead.
Yes, sir. Sir, I have a couple of questions. Firstly, with respect to your other expenses, is there any one-time or promotion kind of expense which we have spent on the higher side? On a year-on-year basis, the increase seems pretty steep.
Other expenses, one is an increase because of increase in the business, in the volumes. Other expenses includes packing cost, includes stores and space, and certain selling expenses which are variable in nature. As our volumes increase, the impact is there. The other head where the increase is there, that we are investing on some of the branding, both in the Grey and the White business. Because of the investment in branding, which with the current market, we need to do that, there's an increase, which is not very substantial, but incremental company may be doing about INR 50 crore-INR 60 crore additional branding.
One more area which we have kind of changed as our lead distance has come off quite a bit. Will we start seeing benefits from this on a per ton per kilometer basis going forward?
Yeah, we have to see, per ton per kilometer as we enter new areas. What is happening, every region has a different per ton per kilometer range. Now in our case, what is happening, all the incremental volumes which are coming, which is all road-based. We do not have the incremental volume on North Railway, which will come with the new expansion when we do at Jaisalmer. On ton per kilometer, though we'll be able to maintain, but again, lead distance depends as you have to reach out to new markets. More or less, we should be able to maintain the same lead distance and increase upon our volumes.
Got it, sir. Just one related question, sir. What is the impact for us with the sensitivity with respect to increase in diesel prices? Could you give me some rough numbers for that?
See, diesel prices may have an impact both internal and external. One is the internal material movement. I think if suppose it goes up to INR 10, INR 11, which is a fair number, I think it will go up as the way government is doing today. It has already been now INR 7 . INR 11, INR 12, it may have an impact of maybe about INR 50 a ton, INR 60 a ton.
Got it, sir. Thank you so much, sir.
Thank you. Participants may press star and one to ask a question. Our next question is from the line of Girija Ray with Nirmal Bang. Please go ahead.
Hello. Thank you, sir. Thanks for taking my question. A couple of questions. First thing is about the pricing. Do you see any kind of pre-monsoon price hike? Second will be on the demand. Don't you think we are a bit conservative on giving the full year industry growth of around 6%-7%? Post-COVID, we saw some kind of revive in demand. In FY 2025, we saw a drop year-on-year volume growth or demand. What's actually happening in ground level? Things are not working, kind of infra work or anything, any kind of issues or challenges we are facing that we are a bit conservative on our industry demand growth.
No, we are conservative. Again, 6%-8% is fair. If you look at the cement industry, it has been growing at 6%-8%. Normally, it was an old formula. The cement grows at 1.2x the GDP growth or GDP sometimes, that was the old one. I think cement infrastructure, as you said, on an infra spend there is a good demand. We have to see what we are saying 6%- 8%. Look at the present geopolitical situation, which is having some impact on many businesses. All this does have an impact on housing.
We may see. We have not seen any major, but we have to factor all this because people, if they are short of their businesses are down, they may have to defer their housing investment for some time.
Do you see any kind of liquidity crunch or cash flow issues from the government sides? Do you see any kind of things?
Government side, I don't have to comment on that. Everybody knows you may be in a better position to know what is the cash position in case of government.
Okay. For this pre-monsoon price hike, do you see any kind of price hike?
Cost increase, yes. We would like to pass on all the cost increase.
Prior to the link period. That would always be the effort, and we can watch and see what price increase we can do, or at least pass on all the cost increase.
Okay. Thank you, sir.
Thank you. To ask a question please press star then one. Our next question is from the line of Shravan Shah with Dolat Capital. Please go ahead.
Hi, sir. Thank you. Surprised to get a chance at much later date despite pressing star one much earlier. [Mr. Shah], a couple of questions from my side. Sir, first, when you said that for this year, we are looking at least 2.5 million tonnes incremental volume and maybe more. Similar way, one can also look at for FY 2020 also, given all the Panna, Jaisalmer and the Punjab would also support the incremental volume, at least for second half. Maybe if you can also highlight, maybe even if we can try to start the plant by two, three months earlier, so that can also have some extra volume. Similar 2.5 million tonnes, 3 million tonnes extra volume is also one can look at in FY 2028 also.
Sure. See, again, we are making investment. If we are making a capital investment on capacity, definitely we will like to have that volume growth. We are working. Going forward with our plans on 2030, you will see that minimum. Earlier I said that we should get on an annual 2 million tonnes additional volume. Now I've already revised that to say 2.5 million tonnes, and going forward, hopefully we'll revise it to minimum additional 3 million tonnes every year. We have to get that. We have to give the ROI also.
Yes, sir. Second, sir, in terms of CC ratios currently, maybe in fourth quarter or maybe entire FY 2026, is it still at 1.55x? Is there a way to further improve this?
See, there are ways, again, it also depends on the demand pattern. As we see, there is a good infra growth, and infra is more on OPC. We have to see in which way the demand is going. All the clinker cement ratio depends upon the mix. We cannot just ignore, and it is not possible to get this growth only on grades.
Okay. Got it. Sir, just to clarify on the staff cost or the previous answer, I think it was on the standalone basis. On a consolidated basis also similar way when we are looking at 12%-13% kind of on the full year basis growth, because on this quarter, the consolidated staff cost is INR 291- odd crore. From Q1, we should further see the further increase here.
Yeah, of course, from Q1, you will see an increase. The increase, as I said earlier, increases on account of the increments. We have already, as per the labor code, we have reclassified the salaries to meet out the labor code's requirements. That is also having some impact on the wages.
Okay. Sir, on the CapEx front, sir has mentioned that for FY 2027, we are looking at INR 3,500 crore-INR 4,000 crore kind of a CapEx. The Jaisalmer may balance CapEx is INR 3,900- odd crore. Then for next year, does that also mean mostly we will be completing this and the extra for FY 2028, what we are saying INR 1,500 crore-INR 2,000 crore? This will be for Muddapur expansion that will be the next-
No. We have not considered the next expansion in this because this INR 3,500 crores is not going towards the Jaisalmer expansion, the entire CapEx. It includes the normal CapEx. It includes the CapEx on the Putty plant which is going on. We also considered the investment as part of this, like whatever we are doing for the solar tie-ups or investing in the Acro Paints . There’s an investment also in coal block and there’s other normal CapEx. Out of INR 3,500 crores, which we expect maybe the overall CapEx, about INR 800 crores-INR 1,000 crores could be the normal CapEx and other CapEx and about balance could be on the greenfield expansion.
Okay. Panna, the entire roughly INR 650 crore was supposed to be spent, the balance CapEx out of the announced INR 18,250. Have we entirely done it in the fourth quarter or still completely pending?
What is happening in case of Panna, there's some spillover CapEx and expenditure remaining to the regular siding. Number two, I'm happy to inform that out of INR 2,850, there would be a good amount, at least INR 200 crore- INR 250 crore saving, about INR 300 crore saving in Panna. We will end up the project at a lower cost.
Great. That’s a great thing. Sir, on the paint, when we said that the INR 500 crore-INR 550 crore revenue that we are looking at for FY 2027 and EBITDA breakeven or maybe positive. This will be for entire full year on an average basis, we are saying, not for by exit of FY 2027.
No, I'm talking about the full year. The INR 550 crore is not exit, it is a full year number. INR 500 crore is a full year number. When I said EBITDA positive, it's a full year number.
Okay. The incentive from maybe the INR 29 crore that we have saved for fourth quarter, from third quarter onwards, we should start seeing this number should be significantly jumping up to INR 70 crore.
It may vary quarter-on-quarter, but I'm saying full year number should be around INR 250 crore.
I'm trying to understand the FY 2028 number. If the run rate goes to INR 70 crore-INR 75 crore, this number would be INR 300 crore for FY 2028. I'm trying to understand.
Yes, definitely it will increase going forward then.
Yeah. On the White business front, on the volume front, now the 0.6 million tonnes, 6 lakh will be there by Q2 or maybe one or two months only. We should be seeing for full year basis how one can look at on the volume at a consolidated White Cement.
Consolidated White Cement, we expect you should see an 8%-10% growth.
Okay. That run rate will keep on going on for us.
Yeah.
Yeah. Lastly, sir, thermal power plant capacity 27.5 MW that we have reduced in this quarter. From which plant or any specific region?
Actually, we have the Thermal Power Plants at the White Cement and one thermal power plant at the Grey Cement. We have discarded that power plant. As it is, we are not operating. It is not economical to operate. We're going for more green power.
Are we going to sell as a scrap or can we get some kind of a revenue, or it will remain as it is? Maybe we can use as and when required.
Mostly we should sell it as a scrap only.
Okay. green, sir, now the WHRS is there, this 51%, 52%, how we can look at for full year FY 2027, this number going up?
FY 2027, it should increase by 2%-3% because some approvals from the state government and from the power, the listing is there. I think they should be closer to 55% by FY 2027.
Okay. The target is to reach 75%. The main increase will start coming from FY 2028 onwards to reach that 75%.
We will reach that number, Q1. When we put up green power, it takes time before it gets installed. When combined, we have about already 80 MW in process. Once it gets commissioned, it will substantially improve the green power.
Okay. Lastly, sir, what you said is basically the cost increase overall and the price increase. Net net for Q1, we should be at least within a similar kind of profitability. If calculating is one considered as on today's date, if everything remains as on, maybe Q2, if the price increase is not there, some pressure can come in on the profitability. That's the way one can look at.
You can look at it that way. It depends.
Okay. Thank you, and all the best.
Thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, this will be the final reminder for you to press star and one if you wish to ask questions. There will not be any further reminders to join the queue. Our next question is from the line of Prateek Kumar from Jefferies. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Good evening, sir. I have two questions. Firstly, on your White Cement profitability, is this on an EBITDA per ton basis, including Putty, similar, or how does it compare to Grey Cement ton?
Actually, we don't share separately the White Cement profitability and Putty.
Directionally, I know it has been coming down from an industrial segment.
It has been coming down because of increased competition. I think now, going forward, it should not further reduce.
Okay. Another key question. Your North operations will be now running at close to 100% utilization, right? Central region, your capacity is now increased to almost a similar, I think maybe slightly as the North. How is the North?
North still remains the highest capacity out of 32 million tonnes. Basically, if we say 15.5 million tonnes is North and 16.5 million tonnes South and Central. Central is 12 million tonnes, 4.5 million tonnes is South.
The debottlenecking which you have done in this year are on which all plants?
Mainly it is in the South plants, where we have increased capacity from 3.5 million tones to 4.5 million tonnes.
Okay. The south has 3 million tonnes increase. Okay.
Yeah.
Just a quick question on Central region. It crossed in Central region on expanded capacity, what would be the utilization?
Expanded capacity, overall utilization should be around 65%-70%, combined.
Okay. On a 12 million tonnes volume, you have 65%-70% utilization, right?
Around there.
Around there. Right. Okay. Sure. These are my questions. Thank you. All the best.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now take our last question from the line of Parvez Qazi from Nuvama Group. Please go ahead.
Hi, good afternoon, thanks for taking my follow-up question. Just a couple of bookkeeping questions. What was our [clinker] cost this quarter, the rail share, and the CC ratio? Thank you.
The [clinker] cost was INR 1.48. Hello?
Yes, sir. The railway share?
It was 8%.
Lastly, the CC ratio.
CC ratio, like We are at 67%.
Okay. Thanks, and all the best.
Thank you. I would now like to hand the conference over to Mr. Vaibhav Agarwal for closing comments. Over to you, sir.
Yeah. Thank you. Sir, I had a couple of questions. Actually, the first question was that, especially regarding Central India operations, a lot of your peers have been kind of, since you started the new plant, giving the feedback that JK Cement is trying to push a lot of volumes, especially in non-trade segment, which is actually bringing the broader pricing to a subdued level in Central India. What is your response to this? What is your strategy in Central India operations in terms of ramping up utilization and maintaining core issue pricing? How do you respond to that?
No. Okay. That was about two quarters back. Definitely, it's not non-trade, but as for KAM, we see KAM as a major driver for the volumes, and we are not only Central India, of course, we are working out on key management accounts to increase our volumes. We are not dumping any material anywhere.
In Central India also, there's no reason for worry from JK Cement's perspective. Okay.
No.
As a second question was that, when we had our recent investor roadshow in March, you have been guiding for 15 million tonnes capacity by FY 2030, now, given that a few players are kind of holding on their expansions, whereas companies like the industry leaders, especially Adani Cement, they are now talking about 300 million tonnes capacity. What would be JK Cement's thought process would be after Jaisalmer? I know it's a little early to give a response to this, but because you have been executing very well and you have been showing your execution all the time through that you can execute capacity as well as volumes given by several things. Going forward also, assuming that geopolitical situation doesn't settle down and other peers kind of release that capacity expansion, will JK Cement continue to move forward with the 15 million toones roadmap?
Are you confident of it or there could be a possible delay?
See, as of as on date, we are confident that whatever we have planned for 2030, and we don't foresee any change in that plan. However, if in case because of geopolitical situation, there is a major challenge on cash flows, if because of geopolitical, external factors, and we may have to shelf for another six months or so, but nothing long-term. We are quite sure that as of now, we don't see any problem. We're quite confident that we will go ahead with our plan for 2030.
Sir, just to follow up on this, Prashant gave a guidance of INR 1,500 crores of CapEx for FY 2028. That factors in your roadmap of INR 1,500 crores or there would be additional INR 300 crores-INR 400 crores?
No. See, what he has given a guidance is only with respect to the commitments as on date.
Okay. Understood.
When we give a guidance, we don't include what we have not committed so far.
Understood.
The next expansion is definitely there on the card. We are planning for it. We will go ahead with it. But we will give the CapEx commitment plan only once it is approved by the Board.
Understood. Thank you, sir. On behalf of PhillipCapital India Private Limited, I would like to thank the management of JK Cement for the call and also many thanks to you for the participation in the call. Robin will now come off the call. Thank you, sir.
Thank you everyone for joining the call. Thank you.
Thank you, sir. Thanks.
Thank you.
Thank you.
On behalf of PhillipCapital India Private Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you all for joining us. You may now disconnect your lines.