Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to the Star Cement Limited Q2 and H1 FY 2024 Conference Call hosted by PhillipCapital (India) Private Limited. As a reminder, all participant lines will be in listen-only mode, and there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions at the end of today's presentation. Should you need assistance during the 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.
Yeah. Thank you, Aman. Good evening, everyone. On behalf of PhillipCapital (India) Private Limited, we welcome you to the Q2 and H1, FY 2024, Earnings Call of Star Cement Limited. On the call we have with us Mr. Tushar Bhajanka, Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Vinit Kumar Tiwari, Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Manoj Agarwal, Chief Financial Officer of the company. I'll now hand over the floor to the management of the company for the opening remarks before we go to Q&A. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Yeah. So good afternoon, all. My name is Tushar Bhajanka, and I'm the Deputy MD of Star Cement. I would like to welcome you all to the Earnings Call of quarter two. I have the CEO and ... of the company with me as well. The CFO will give out the numbers of quarter two, and then we can have a Q&A session. Thank you.
Yeah, hi, friends. Very good evening. I, on behalf of Star Cement Limited, welcome you to the phone call for discussing our numbers of Q2 FY 2024 and half year ending September 2023. I'd like to clarify that we are, we will be discussing on the historical numbers, and there is no invitation to invest. Having said that, now, I will just take you through the Q2 numbers, followed by half year numbers. Starting from clinker production during the quarter ending September 2023, we have produced 6.48 lakh tons of clinker as against 5.12 lakh tons same quarter last year. So far as cement production is concerned, we have produced 8.94 lakh tons this quarter, as against 8.91 lakh tons same quarter last year. This quarter we have taken shutdown in both of our units at Lumshnong, Meghalaya.
Now, I will take you through sales volume. During the quarter, we have sold 8.96 lakh ton of cement as against 8.91 lakh ton of cement for same quarter last year. This is so far as far as our cement sales concern. As far as geographical distribution in terms of cement is concerned, in Northeast we have sold around 6.72 lakh ton as against 6.54 lakh ton same quarter during same quarter last year. As far as outside Northeast, Northeast sale is concerned, we have sold 2.24 lakh ton of cement this quarter, as against 2.38 lakh ton cement same quarter last year. In term of blending, it is almost 9% of OPC and almost approx 1% of PSC and rest is PPC.
These are the quantitative numbers for this quarter. Now, I will take you through the financials. The total revenue figure this quarter is around INR 585 crore as against INR 594 crore same period last year. As far as EBITDA figure is concerned, this quarter we have done an EBITDA of around INR 104 crore as against INR 83 crore last year. PAT is INR 34 crore against INR 31 crore the same period last year. On per ton EBITDA front, it is 1,154 during this quarter, as against 954 per ton same quarter last year. This is our quarterly numbers of second quarter. The total revenue figure of half year ending September 2023 is around INR 1,346 crore as against INR 1,260 crore same period last year.
As far as EBITDA figure is concerned, during half year ending September 2023, we have done an EBITDA of around INR 242 crore as against 221 crore last year. PAT is INR 134 crore as against 91.99 crore in same period last year. On per ton EBITDA front, it is 1,136 during the half year ending September 2023, as against 1,183 per ton same period last year. These are the quarterly and half yearly numbers. Now I request all of you, if you have any query, you can ask the same, and I will request Vaibhav to moderate the query very, very precise. 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 their touchtone telephone. Participants are requested to use handsets while asking a question. Anyone who has a question may press star and one at this time. First question comes from Shravan Shah from Dolat Capital. Please go ahead.
Yeah, thank you. First, couple of data points. Trade share and premium share, and the lead distance for this quarter?
Yeah, Vinit, you go ahead this.
Sorry. Trade non-trade is 89% and 11% in Quarter Two. Premium growth is 6.9% this quarter, vis-a-vis 4.6% same quarter last year. And, lead distance-
So the share of premium in the trade is 4%?
6.9%.
Okay, 6.9%. Yeah.
Vis-à-vis 4.6% last year, same quarter.
Okay. Okay, sir.
Premium growth is close to 37%.
Okay, and the lead distance, sir?
Distance, Quarter Two is 214 km.
Okay, 214 km. And in terms of the fuel mix, spot, contract coal, Nagaland coal, and biomass, AFR?
Okay. So in terms of fuel mix, in Quarter Two, our FSA is around 6%. Nagaland is around 32%, biomass is around 5%, spot option and trader purchase is around 57%.
Okay, and kcal basis, is how much? Last quarter it was INR 2.4, so.
This quarter it is INR 1.9.
So do we expect any further in the second quarter or third quarter?
We expect it in the next quarter.
Okay. Sir, now coming the CapEx and the timeline for the plants that we have. So, plant-wise, in terms of the clinker at Meghalaya, 3 MTPA, 2 MTPA Silchar, and grinding and 2 MTPA grinding at Guwahati. How much CapEx we have done, and how much more for this year we are planning? Last time we told INR 13 crore that we are planning for this year, and INR 400 crore to INR 500 crore in FY 2025.
Okay. So first of all, if you want to know about the project status, our Guwahati grinding unit is the first to come, so it's looking quite possible. We will be starting it in December. So this is going to happen pretty soon. As far as our clinkerization unit is concerned, it is expected as of now around February. And as far as Silchar unit is concerned, as we informed in last quarter also, we have slightly delayed it for strategic reasons. Also, our land acquisition is going well in place. Almost 73% of the land acquisition we have already done, and so that's going on. But we are pacing it so that we have, we have enough time to utilize our Guwahati grinding unit capacity.
So, as far as research is concerned, it will be hitting us in the financial year 2025-2026. Now, coming to CapEx. Overall, CapEx, as you know, all the projects, everything involved was close to INR 2,400 crores. With the Lumshnong, our clinkerization was around INR 1,300. You want to know how much we have done it now, that's what your question?
... And for Guwahati.
Sorry, Shravan, we lost your audio. Please-
Guwahati is around INR 450 crores. Silchar is around INR 500 crores. Apart from this, there are two other projects on which we are working, which is AAC block, which is around INR 50 crores. And, 25 MW, which is around INR 10 crores.
So we have already spent on clinker. How much we have spent, and Guwahati grinding, how much we have spent?
Okay. The cost incurred on our clinkerization unit till now is around INR 700 crores. On Guwahati, cost incurred till now is around INR 206 crores. And as far as-
Okay.
Silchar is concerned, the land acquisition is going on at this moment. So that's where we stand.
I would just want to correct, just add one more thing here.
Yeah.
That, you know, the cost, which has been incurred in the books is INR 700 crore, but the committed cost, which is, of course, the cost of ordering machines and the payment in the contracts, is of about INR 950 crore. You know, and then, of course, there are certain buildings, certain facilities that we're making with the plant, which we have, you know, not prioritized with the plant. So the clinker production will start by itself, and the other supplementary buildings and plants will be commissioned 2-3 months after.
Okay.
Yeah.
So this year, in FY 2024, totally, how much combined put together, how much, we are planning to do a CapEx and the next year, FY 2025?
You know, we were in total, last, in the last call, I think I suggested about INR 800 crore of CapEx in this year, and the rest of it will be next year. Out of the INR 800 crore, we have already done INR 200 crore in quarter two, and in quarter three and four, we plan to do the next INR 600 crore. And, right now, I think the cash reserve in the company is about INR 210 crore, and in this year, we plan to generate about INR 320 crore approx. So we may need, you know, a debt of about INR 300 crore in this financial year.
Sir, correct me if I'm wrong, our total for FY 2024, combining, so INR 200 crore we have spent, INR 600 crore more, so INR 800 crore, but, in Q1 also including. So total last time we have talk about, thirteen hundred odd crore that we are planning to do a CapEx at consolidated level. So against that, now we are saying that INR 800 crore?
Yeah. So basically, in quarter two, what we had said is that going... Quarter one, you know, call, we had said that in the next three quarters, we would spend about INR 800 crore. Right. So out of that INR 800 crore, we have already spent INR 200 crore. So there's INR 600 crore yet to be invested, right, in the CapEx, which will happen in the quarter three and quarter four.
And for next year, FY 25?
For next year, FY 25, you know, we would, you know, do the balance, right? So I'll have to calculate exactly the difference. But, you know, I think about INR 300 crore more in the clinker plant and the Guwahati grinding unit. And then, of course, there'll be about INR 300 crore of more investment in the Silchar plant. Because the Silchar plant we have deferred, so it will not really be hitting us that much in the early next year.
... So, more than INR 66 crore broadly for, it's for FY 2025. So, in terms of the net cash, currently, we have INR 210 crore, and we are seeing a INR 320-odd crore we will be generating. So with this CapEx, and we were looking at, okay, again, by end of FY 2025, we will become a net cash company, so that stand remains intact.
Yeah, yeah. I think that stand remains completely intact.
Okay. Lastly, on the pricing front, sir, how are in terms of the current prices versus the Q2 average, whatever the regions, particularly Northeast and East?
So on the NOD front, if you'll ask me, we have improved by around 5%. In Northeast, it's around INR 10 a bag, and outside Northeast, it is around INR 50 a bag, improvement we have seen in this quarter.
Okay, and, and that is not impacting the demand?
Demand, yes, demand, it is not impacting the demand. I will say price is not impacting the demand. Overall demand in quarter two, if you remember it, quarter one was superb quarter. There was a huge, almost 25% industry growth we registered in Northeast in quarter one. And accordingly, Star also grew by more than 25% in quarter one in Northeast. Quarter two has been pretty subdued. It is flattish, almost on demand front. So, that was expected because quarter one, the rain got delayed. Rain, more rain came into in the second quarter. There was in North, in North Bengal, hillside, there was huge landslides, roads were totally blocked and jammed. So that has caused, demand dampness in quarter two.
And so, there's a balancing impact you can see. Quarter one was exceptionally well, and quarter two has been subdued on that account. So going forward, we still maintain, there's no reason why we should not be seeing a double-digit growth in the balance two quarters.
Okay, thank you, sir, and all the best.
Thank you.
Thank you. Anyone with question may press star and one. Next question is from Mahek Talati, from Yellow Jersey Investment Advisors. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Hi, am I audible?
Yes.
Yeah, hi. Thank you for the opportunity. Sir, as to, there has been a sharp decline in profitability on a quarter-on-quarter basis, by up to 40%. So any specific reason because petcoke power and fuel costs has, has declined in this Q, on a QoQ basis. So what has impacted our profitability?
I mean, one big reason which has impacted the profitability is, of course, the volume. Right, because Q1 is normally a better, you know, quarter in terms of volume. So, and Q2 is because of monsoon, normally the volume dips. So I, even Q1, we did exceptional growth, also because the monsoon had postponed, and Q2, the monsoons hit us. So of course, you know, you'll see a big difference in the volumes between Q1 and Q2, which also, of course, explains the difference in profitability between the two quarters.
Another is obviously the maintenance expense also came into this quarter. We had a shutdown plant, so that is also the difference between quarter one and quarter two.
Yeah. So there was a INR 15 crore expenditure in the shutdown, which is annual shutdown that we took. And of course, because of that, yeah, there's a difference, yeah.
Okay. Does the slowness in the demand, which we saw in Q2, is it a postponed demand? Or... So will that demand come in Q3 and Q4, or how do you look at that, so slow demand, which we face in Q2 due to the monsoons?
I think if we talk about the demand got postponed, we can also say it got preponed also, because the incident came in the quarter one, the way it came in, in last year. So, we can see a mixed impact. I will not say it's totally a postponed demand. Yes, we can see some demand start after Diwali festivities get over. That's the time when things should start looking up. And then as we are moving towards the general election, next two quarters, I think, we'll see a good build-up.
What is the volume target, volume growth target in FY 24 as compared to FY 23? How much are you targeting?
Our annual target, if you'll ask me, whatever we have achieved and whatever, we feel we will be able to achieve in the balance, two quarters, it should help us in achieving, a growth of in double digits annually, around 13% to 14% at least we should be able to achieve.
13% to 14% for FY 2024 or for H2?
No, no, I'm talking about the full financial year.
Okay. And last, if I may confirm, you say that Silchar project... That has been, is the status there? Silchar.
Yeah, I think to start it. So, we are just going slightly slow. If you understand, Guwahati unit is coming up in December, so we will be flexibility with material for some time. So we felt bringing up Silchar unit early may not be a wise thing to do. So we are strategically delaying it for some time. We have calculated our volumes, and based on that, we feel that if Silchar unit comes somewhere in mid-2025, that will, that will be the right time, and somewhere around first, second quarter of mid-2025, that will be the right time when we will, when we will be sitting in exactly in a position to utilize the capacity of Silchar.
Okay, wonderful. Thank you.
... is the question answered, Mahek?
Yes. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Anyone who wish to ask a question may press star and one. The next question is from Amit Murarka from Axis Capital. Please go ahead.
Yeah, hi. Just two questions. First, on the market. So, you had grown 25% in Q1, but was flat in Q2. So like second half of 2025, 2024 and 2025, like, can we expect the double-digit growth to broadly be there in the market in terms of projects which are going on and, the general demand that you see at the B2C level also?
Yeah. So, as I said, key, if you look into the last, the month after the second quarter, October, if you look into October, yes, it was good, that is last October. And, since after that, there has been two festivity back in Northeast, Durga Puja and now the Diwali, so there has been slight dampness at this point of time, okay? But surely, double-digit growth, I see happening in these two quarters.
Okay, okay, sure. And also on realization, the INR 50 hike that you mentioned that has happened, like, has it stabilized, or you think that, like, there could be some rollbacks going into Diwali at all?
No, no, no, no. As far as Star is concerned, we have realized the gains, definitely in our MOP, so there's no rollback as of now. There's a slight rollback because of these festivities which happened because Durga Puja, you understand, is a big festivity here. So there was a slight correction, but there's nothing big happening. Going forward, if everything works out, I hope this should get maintained. If it has come down, there may be a possibility of taking INR 5 to INR 10 rupees, INR 5 to INR 7 rupees dilution, which has happened in last 10, 15 days. We definitely see an, once the demand picks up, the opportunity to bring it back on the table.
I would just like to add that this price increase of INR 50 in outside Northeast in Bengal and Bihar, and the INR 10 hike in Northeast happened in the month of September. So in quarter 3, 2, we haven't... So the NOD does not reflect that increase in the price because it happened somewhere mid in September.
Yeah.
So it does not even have 15 days of impact. So the impact of that should be seen in Q3.
Got it. Got it. Lastly, like, I believe recent players are also trying to get into the Northeast market. I think UltraTech particularly has been quite vocal about it. So are you seeing them making inroads incrementally, or you think that it's tough to do that?
UltraTech been there in that market for quite some time, so it's not a new market for them. Yes, they must be having their own strategy to get into there, but it's not a new market. UltraTech has been serving that market for quite many years.
Yeah, and I don't think like there any significant increase in, you know, sales from UltraTech side in quarter two. So there's nothing which actually makes us believe that they're gaining market share in Northeast.
Oh, sure. And sorry, just the last one. So I did believe, like you are doing the clinker line, even Dalmia is doing their clinker line. And both of them combined, I believe, is like, almost like a 30%+ kind of an expansion in the capacity in the market. So, could there be a situation of like a temporary kind of increase in competitive intensity within that phase when both of your clinkers are ramping up? Just some thought on that.
So Dalmia's clinker is coming, you know, I think approximately one year after our clinker plant is coming. So I think that will not be the case for at least the next one year. But of course, when there are two co-companies which are getting, big capacities of, you know, two dominant companies getting big capacities, there could be, some correction in the price, right? But I think what will happen is that it will be made up in terms of volume, and, and that's what we expect. And it will be made up, from, you know, there's, cement coming from outside Northeast, so I think there'll be some substitution, of that market share getting added to ours and some more to Dalmia.
So, thanks. I'll come back and thank you for more.
Thank you.
Thank you. Anyone who wish to ask a question may press star and one. Next question is from Mangesh Bhadang from Centrum Broking. Please go ahead.
Hello, sir. So my question is with regards to your profitability in the Northeast and Eastern region. In the past, you have mentioned that the Eastern region profitability is substantially lower than Northeast. So with this price hike, which is much higher in East, how far you have bridged this gap? Is it more or less similar now, or do you think there is still that difference that remains?
So, if the question is that, is there a difference between any Northeast and outside Northeast profitability per ton? Of course, there is still a difference between the two. But given that there was a price hike in outside Northeast, which was higher than the price hike in Northeast, the difference would of course now reduce, but still very substantial.
Sir, anything you can quantify there, or?
Yeah, I think like in, I think, outside Northeast, so it would be about, you know, this is before the price hike. I don't have the EBITDA per ton after the price hike. But before the price hike, I think the EBITDA outside Northeast was-
...And now, the burden EBITDA, you know, will be much higher. And, and the burden EBITDA in Northeast was about INR 1,500.
Sir, the second question is on the Bihar market. So we've been reading, we've been reading that there has been a, you know, sharp slowdown in that market, in terms of demand. So just wanted some color on it. Have you experienced the same in the North Bihar market that you target? And if at all it is, then, what could be the quantum of, you know, the demand decline that you are seeing there? Or you think that it is, you know, normal, normal course of, the-
Your voice is not clear exactly. What you're trying to ask is, Star has shut down some market, you're saying that or you're saying?
No, no, sir. So Bihar market, Bihar market, we have seen some slowdown in demand. So just wanted to understand for North Bihar market that we specifically target, have we also seen a similar kind of slowdown?
Yes, yes, we have experienced a slowdown in demand. Last month or two, I will say, two months, it has been pretty bad in Bihar. Bengal also, it's not something great we have in Bihar also. But Bihar, with the type of growth which Bihar was showing, it is not showing as of now, last few months.
Okay. Sir, final question is on the incentive. You can just run us through the incentives that we are eligible for, for the investment that we are doing.
So you are aware about it. The incentive is 200% of our plant and machinery investment. So we looked, if you want me to quantify that, it should be around... It's a little percent marketing, so to that ceiling.
Understood, sir. Thank you, sir. That's it, then. Thank you, sir. That's it, sir.
Okay.
Thank you. Anyone who has question may press star and one. Please note, this is the final reminder for questions, and no further reminders will be placed after this. The next question is from Giriraj Maloo, from MDM Tradecom. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Hi. Just wanted to know, what is the current status on the capacity utilization as of date, the current status?
You want to know for quarter two?
Yeah, right now, as of date.
You are asking for the quarter. September, it is 88%, 88, around 88% of cement capacity utilized.
Okay. Sir, in the last call, we have been noting that there have been some plans for the cost reduction of fly ash at the Siliguri unit.
Yeah.
So what is the update on that? Have we been able to make some progress on that?
Yeah. So that's the project we said it's a BTAP wagon project. So where we are bringing fly ash by road as of now. So we will BTAP wagons. That project is in the... We are progressing on, because it's so presently, we will be ordering those wagons, and project which will get realized in, in, finally only somewhere around March and the wagons to get delivered. So that's coming through, because that's the main number of initiatives we have taken to reduce cost. But one of the major initiatives is that. Our consultant, very pretty, discuss negotiations are on.
Okay. As per, you know, the study is at 5% to 20% as well. So of course, this whole expansion that is there for the next two years, where do you see the number really jumping into us? Some of the market.
We still have market share of 30%+.
30%. So then, you know, the capacity to double. So do you see that kind of absorption being taken by the market? Because a lot of both national players, the big players, as well as the small, there are a lot of small players, you know, who are also expanding with capacities of less than about 2 million tons. How do you see on that front?
So there are two things. One is the market will grow naturally. So the growth which we get out of the market growth, that is something there available for us. Secondly, the players who are not serious players in Northeast, who are dumping material and are working, and doing like hit and run, these are the players whom we'll have to fight out with. We have all well within with whatever with our capacity is there, as well as we'll have those subsidies with us. So if the need be, we will have to fight our market share out from them as well. As far as the smaller players are concerned, we don't see much capacity expansion coming up from any smaller player, so they will remain stagnant at the level where they are in. So the growth which they were also taking will also come to us.
Okay. Sir, any consolidation, do you see any kind of a consolidation happening in the market, in the coming, you know, couple of quarters or couple of years, since a lot of capacity is being added, so any consolidation within the industry that can be expected or?
... We don't rule it out. Once the two big players have the capacities coming in there, that's for the people, they may not see much opportunity for their existence if they don't have a capacity to expand. They may think about that.
Okay. And sir, as far as the Central India place concerned, any progress or any mines that, you know, we are really looking at or any opportunity that is there, because the company has been looking to venture into the Central India also. Any update there?
We have been looking for mines. We have participated in few auctions also as well. In Rajasthan, we have participated, in MP we have participated, in Chhattisgarh we have participated. We have been successful in getting one. In Chhattisgarh alone, we have been able to get the composite license. We have secured one, composite license in Chhattisgarh already.
Okay. And, sir, one last question. What is the current non-trade versus trade volumes that the company has won by for Q2, and any ballpark that can be given for the Q3 and Q4?
Our current ratio you want, you are asking?
Yes.
Trade non-trade ratio?
Yes, yes.
89% in quarter two and 11%, 89% and 11%.
So, with the new capacity and all in place, how do you see this mix?
It will grow, and our non-trade portfolio will grow. This is one thing which we have not invested much on. Last few months, we have paid attention to this, and it has slightly grown in last month. So, we see it will go bring it to a level of 85-15.
Sir, what has been the average, you know, petcoke cost that is there in the inventory side?
Come again?
The petcoke cost for the, the average cost, that is there in the closing inventory for the last quarter, so that the cost realization that will happen in this particular quarter coming in.
Sir, you're talking about the petcoke?
The petcoke, the cost.
We are not using, we are not using petcoke.
Okay. Okay, thank you.
Thank you. We will take the last question, which is from the line of Uttam Kumar Srimal from Axis Securities. Please go ahead.
Yes, sir. Thanks for the opportunity. Sir, what was capacity utilization of Siliguri unit in this quarter?
Capacity utilization of Siliguri grinding unit in this quarter has been 45%.
45%?
Yeah.
Okay, thanks. And what was it last quarter to last year, same quarter?
Last year, same quarter, it was 37%.
37%. So it has improved. And also, you had improved on our premium cement share to 4% to 7%. So any number that you want to take premium cement to? 7% to 14%.
To hit 10% by in this financial year.
10% by this financial year. Okay, sir, WHRS plant which came last quarter, so how much savings till date we have achieved from that?
In quarter two, we have got INR 10 crore out of WHRS.
10 crore. And last one, sir, this quarter, our freight cost has been quite low. On a ton basis, it has on a blended basis, it has gone down by 16%. So any reason for that?
Yeah. There are two reasons. One is, as you are aware, that Star has its own fleet. So we have deployed our fleet strategically to bring down the freights, number one. Number two, there was a bridge, which was broken last year, which escalated the freight substantially. That bridge work has been over, so that has helped us in bringing down the freights.
Sir, this one is sustainable, going forward also?
Yes, we see it sustainable.
Okay, okay. Okay, sir, that's all from my side, and all the best to you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, that was the last question. I now hand the floor back to Mr. Vaibhav Agarwal for closing comments. Thank you, and over to you.
Yeah, thank you, Aman. Sir, I had a few questions. So, sir, you have guided on the call of about 14% to 15% volume growth, if I rightly hear, for FY 2024. In the first half, we have done about 10% growth in terms of volumes. So, sir, are we guiding for a, like, a 17% to 18% kind of a growth in second half, H2, given that the demand is not great at the moment, and there could be a risk to demand because of labor issues closer to elections. So, general elections, so, do you see a downside risk to your guidance of 17% or 14%, or you hold on to that, that we will be able to achieve this number?
We are absolutely aiming for those numbers. We have to aim for them.
Okay.
Vaibhav, because in December, as you know, our plant is coming in. So we are absolutely focused on meeting demand, and our actions are in line with that.
Understood, sir. So second question was that, in the east we have seen, like you also mentioned on the call, that East price hikes have been quite higher than Northeast prices. So have these price hikes been able to cushion the inflow of material which was coming to Northeast from East and other zones? So has the inflow to Northeast from other-
No, no. If you... That has not impacted any way that the material flow into Northeast. The reason for that is, the player in East are low in capacity utilization. So the increases have happened, but the volumes are not that great in last 2, 3 months if you see. So volumes have not been great. So they find they obviously will dump it at some place. So they continue to dump it, but they are not serious players, as you know. So, They, so network also see the opportunity with them as and when they like. Unlike the players who are operating and who are enriching that market and working on brands and everything. So that difference is there. To be very honest, Vivek, is these players are operating because of the price. They are operating at INR 50, INR 30, INR 40 less than us in those markets. So it's a matter of time. The day we decide we have to fight it out, we will fight it out.
Right, sir. And, sir, last question, to Vinit sir. Vinit sir, you had mentioned on the last call about some rationalization of some discount structures happening in East India, specifically. So, and even in Northeast India, so is that rationalization continuing or you have seen rollbacks of, those, discount structures rationalize? So is this something which is helping price action sustain, in your view? Just wanted to take a view on that.
Yeah, I think in Northeast, doesn't work like since, you know, I have a good exposure of eastern market. Northeast is not as bad in those practices, I will say.
Correct.
But it's more disciplined, and, more transparent, I will say.
Okay.
Yeah.
As far as East is concerned, sir, do you see, have you seen, like, these good practices sustaining or-
No, those good practices, which were tried, they have been fallen back. I mean, I see those efforts are there, but, I have my serious doubts after an effort of one year, those practices have come back again.
Okay.
What is the seriousness, how to believe on whether they will be right going forward?
Understood, sir. Understood. Thank you, sir. Those were my, my questions. Thank you so much. On behalf of PhillipCapital (India) Private Limited, I'd like to thank the management staff for the call, and many thanks for joining the call. Aman will now conclude the call. Thank you very much, sir. Thank you very much. Thank you all. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of PhillipCapital (India) Private Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines. Thank you.