Clean Science and Technology Limited (NSE:CLEAN)
India flag India · Delayed Price · Currency is INR
870.05
-23.05 (-2.58%)
May 11, 2026, 2:55 PM IST
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Q4 24/25

May 22, 2025

Moderator

Ladies and gentlemen, good day and welcome to Q4 and FY25 Earnings Conference Call of Clean Science and Technology Limited. We have with us on the call Mr. Siddharth Sikchi, Executive Director and Promoter, Mr. Sanjay Parnerkar, CFO, and Mr. Pratik Bora, Vice President. 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 call, please signal an operator by pressing star, then zero on your touchstone phone. Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Siddharth Sikchi for opening remarks. Thank you, and over to you, sir.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Thank you so much. Good evening, everyone. I am extremely happy to connect with you all to discuss the business performance for the company for Q4 FY 2025. Let me first start with the business performance. FY 2025 has been a milestone year in the company's history with extensive business transformation, which let me highlight: number one, the company recorded highest sales volume across its key products. Led by superior R&D capabilities, the company developed the highest number of products during the financial year. These include the entire HALS series, DHDT, which is a pharma intermediate, and DHT, along with two new products in the performance chemical segment, which are slated for commercialization in FY 2026. The addressable market is set to increase by over $1.5 billion, underpinned by commercialization of new products, which will position the company on a strong growth runway in the coming years.

The company developed entirely new value chain and complex chemistry capabilities to launch these new products. Some of the key chemistries which the company developed include triphasic catalytic ring formations, which is also called condensation reactions, hydrogenations, esterification, polymerization, hydroamination, and chlorination. Let me talk on standalone financial performance. Starting with Q- on- Q comparison, on a sequential basis, revenues increased by a modest 4.5% to INR 238 crore. EBITDA and PAT increased to INR 105 crore and INR 79 crore, respectively, implying an EBITDA margin of 43.8%. On a Y-o-Y basis, the sales increased by 7% during the quarter, and the revenue growth is primarily led by an increase in sales volume. Let me speak on the consolidated financial performance. The company recorded INR 256 crore sales for Q4, which is 14% higher on an annual basis and 8% higher on a sequential basis.

The consolidated EBITDA is INR 105 crore, implying a 41% EBITDA margin. Let me speak of the newer HALS segment performance. For the quarter, HALS sales value is broadly in line with the last quarter, and blended realization is approximately INR 425 per kg, while the RMC portfolio is around 65% level. For the entire full year FY 2025, the HALS sales volume was roughly 1,900 tons, which gave us a sale of roughly INR 80 crore. Successful validation by key customers based in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe are lead indicators pointing to sales momentum acceleration going forward. Sales profile, the revenue contribution from performance to pharma and agro and FMCG remains at 69%, 19%, and 12%, respectively. During the quarter, performance chemical sector has been the key revenue driver, followed by pharma and agro segment.

On the CAPEX cycle, Clean Science invested INR 215 crore during FY 2025 in our subsidiary, Clean Fino-Chem. Construction for the new performance chemical product, which is expected to commercialize by Q3 FY 2026, is on track. CAPEX for performance chemical two has started, and we expect the plant to commercialize by Q4 FY 2026. On ESG, we are pleased to report that the board has recommended a final dividend of INR 4 per share. The total payout ratio is higher at 22% for FY 2025 compared to the previous year. Led by a strong focus towards cash conversion, the cash balance continues to be meaningful at INR 400 crore despite the increased payout ratio and sizable CAPEX in the new subsidiary. With this, I conclude my opening remarks and look forward to the Q&A session. Thank you so much, guys.

Moderator

Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask a question may press star and one on their touchstone 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 Ankur Periwal from Access Capital. Please go ahead.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Yeah, hi to that. Congratulations for a good set of numbers and thanks for the opportunity. First, on the HALS, you mentioned revenues were largely flattish Q1, Q2, but at the same time, seeing new product approvals coming in. Yeah, am I audible?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yes. Please repeat.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Yeah, sorry. I was just saying on the HALS side, while the quarterly revenues were flattish, there have been sort of new product approvals, as you highlighted, from multiple geographies. Two questions. One, the distribution network tie-up that we had done earlier, how has been the progress there, and are you satisfied with that? Secondly, from a ramp-up perspective, what timelines are we looking at?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Okay. With respect to the distribution setup model, we set up some distributors over the last two quarters. However, out of some of those distributors, we realized that some of them are not effective as we had expected. In those geographies, we are relooking and refining some of the distributors. This is part of the business cycle. You appoint a few distributors, but you realize at a later date that they are not as effective as you would have wanted them. They were also keen to partner, but eventually, for whatever reason, for resource problems, they also decided that maybe they are not able to allocate enough time. Hence, that process in some of the geographies has restarted.

However, some of the distributors have become very active and are trying and have also got approvals in some of the large accounts globally in their particular area. To give you a little flavor, in FY 2024, we did about 600 tons of HALS sales, whereas in FY 2025, we did roughly 2,000 tons of HALS sales. This is approximately 3x. Going forward in FY 2026, our target is to touch 4,500 tons of sales. When I'm talking, it's cumulative with all together. From INR 25 crore of FY2024 revenue, we came to roughly INR 80 crore, and we ended in FY 2026.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Sorry to interrupt, sir, but your voice dropped in the middle.

If you want to repeat just the last.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Okay. Ankur?

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Yeah, just the last sentence. So from INR 25 crore, we went to INR 80 crore in 2025 on 2026 in business number.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

For 2026, we are expecting closer to INR 210 crore.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Okay. That's helpful. Our earlier target of full ramp-up in HALS, so give us a run rate. We are broadly looking at FY 2027- FY 2028 for that at the current capacity.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

FY 2028. The total capacity is 10,000 tons.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Correct. When do we decide to go for, let's say, the phase two of HALS expansion? Will you wait for more approvals coming in or a ramp-up, actual sales happening, maybe 2026 end? What's the thought there?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

See, once we start getting the majority of approvals globally, once we start seeing a decent ramp-up, when we start seeing that, okay, we are seeing about 60%-65% capacity utilization scenario, that is the time we should go for phase two. Phase two will be far more pointed because we will not get into products which are lower margin accretive compared to the higher series. So phase two will be a little more optimized.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Sure. Your voice got cut in the end, but I understood. Focus will be on the high-margin products there.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Absolutely.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Sure. When we look at the international markets, especially the ones wherein the distributors are working, what is the typical product approval cycle that we are seeing? Obviously, it will vary from product to product, but on an average, three to six months.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Product to product, three to six months.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Okay. And just lastly on this, the breakup, 600 tons in 2024, 2,000 tons in 2025, what will be the export breakup here for both the years?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

See, export is not as large. Domestic is large, but going forward, there will be more export coming into it.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Okay. Okay. Fair enough. That's helpful. Secondly, if I do your consol minus standalone numbers, Q4 looks like a positive EBITDA versus negative EBITDA for the last two, three, whatever quarters. Am I looking at the right that we are breaking even, and this is largely HALS, right?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yes, yes, yes. This is largely HALS. The new other products have to ramp up.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Got it. Okay. Lastly, on the balance sheet side, working capital has inched up a bit for the full year. Is it largely because of your product mix changing or higher contribution from HALS versus earlier years, especially the receivable parts?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

What is happening is we have started producing HALS on a larger scale. So the stocks are higher, but the sales are comparatively lower.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Okay. Okay. So when.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Because the plant is built for 10.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Yeah. Yeah.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Produce a minimum quantum.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Fair enough. So fair to say that once we see a ramp-up in our HALS volumes, let's say by FY 2026 end, the working capital should come back to the normal range, 22% - 23% range.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yes. Right. Right.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Okay. Great. Sounds good. Thanks, Siddharth, and congratulations once again. Thank you.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Thanks, man. Thanks a lot.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Arun from Avendus Park. Please go ahead.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Thanks for the opportunity. Good evening, Siddharth. First is.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Louder, louder.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Yeah, sure. Hopefully, it's clear. Yeah. So when we said the majority of the 2,900 tons volume that we sold is in domestic, does it mean that we have largely saturated the domestic demand? And from here.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Correct.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Okay.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

We have still got, I think, only 50% of the domestic market. There is still 50% of the domestic market left. Of course, we are not envisaging that we will get all the domestic market, but there is still quite a bit of room to capture in the domestic market itself.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

What is the reasonable share that we can expect from the domestic market?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

65-odd %.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

All right. So basically, around another 300-400 tons, we can hope to saturate the domestic market. And of course, that also grows at a certain.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yes. That is also growing at a certain rate. Yes, absolutely.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Right. Specifically on Q4, when we said sales is almost same between the Q3 on a sequential basis, but why is it subsidiary revenue is higher than almost double of December quarter? Any particular reason?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

INR 10 crore going to INR 20 crore.

Because 7,000 we sold from subsidiary. That we took that other product.

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yeah. So Arun, that subsidiary revenue, you are right, has gone up from INR 10 crore Q3 to INR 21 crore in Q4. I mean, at a group level, that sales is in that range of INR 22 odd crore. That's just because we have facility for 7,700 in the parent and the subsidiary company both, right? We produce more from the subsidiary company, and that has led to higher sales from the subsidiary company for HALS. At a group level, it's close to INR 22.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Less volume sales in the parent level. That's a reason.

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yeah, that's correct.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Okay. We thought we have saturated the capacities in unit four, sorry, unit three. Does it mean that it's not? Is there any reason for such rebalancing?

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

No, we are taking certain products in the parent company in the unit three for the HALS facility where the hydrogenation chemistry is available. That is why we moved 7,700 in the subsidiary company. We are pivoting to some new products. We are just trying it.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Right. Okay. Understood. On the export market, I think we are focusing more on the distributors. Siddharth, what about the direct sales to the big enterprises?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

No, no, no. I meant, distributor is important business for larger accounts. There are big companies in Israel, some big accounts in Greece, some big accounts in Europe, or in other parts like the Middle East. We are talking directly to them. There is, again, same network, larger accounts, plus all these larger accounts also want to deal directly with the manufacturer. In that case, we are talking direct, but also trying to set up distribution network because that is very important in these businesses because there are even small customers in quite a part of the world, which has to be catered only by distribution network, I mean, by stock and sale.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Okay. This is mainly because of the being export, because in domestic, if I'm right, we have done largely direct sales, right? This we can't replicate in the export markets?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Not possible, boss, because different languages, different geographies, different time zones. People want just-in-time. In India, it is possible. I mean, we can ship material anywhere within a four-day window. That we cannot do in some part of America or some part of Europe or any other location, right?

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Okay. Understood. In your presentation, even in your opening remarks, you mentioned that record sales. Does it mean even in MEHQ and BHA, in our traditional products also, it is a record sales for the distribution?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yeah, all our traditional products is what we mentioned. Yeah, traditional all our products, other than HALS.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Okay. So.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

HALS is also highest, actually. Yeah, all segments.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

How much room do we have in MEHQ and BHA to further increase sales in 2026?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

70% - 72% capacity utilization. So we still have window there.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Okay. Any market share gain which is possible in this year, given that competition has also said that they will also be placing their volumes in the market, export markets, mature markets?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Still, we have not seen the competitor product, but I think it's still premature to say. I think let us wait for another quarter to decide what's going on, actually.

Arun Prasath
Equity Analyst, Avendus Spark

Okay. Thank you. All right. And that's it from me. Thanks, Siddharth.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Thank you so much, Arun.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Abhijit Akella from Kotak Securities. Please go ahead.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Yeah. Good afternoon. Thank you so much for taking my questions. First one, just a clarification on the opening remark regarding the expansion of addressable market by $1.5 billion that you alluded to earlier on. This is exclusive of HALS, right? Just to understand.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

No, no. Inclusive of HALS and inclusive of the performance chemical which are about to commercialize in this financial year. Both of them, inclusive of both of them.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Okay. Okay. So this is the total global addressable market. HALS alone.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Equal for both Clean Science.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

HALS alone would have billions. One billion out of that, right? Okay. Okay.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yeah, close at the time.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Got it. For HALS, the average realization of INR 425 that you're making at this point, should we expect that to improve significantly in the next couple of years as the business ramps up

100%?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Of course, it has to improve because the higher range products which have now commercialized will start being sold in the market.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Right. So what would be a good number to work with for full actual utilization?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

You can assume about INR 500, INR 495, INR 500.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

For FY 2026.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

For FY 2026.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Yeah.

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

There is scope for further improvement.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Yeah. At peak, I mean, still looking at, say, INR 700 crore - INR 800 crore from HALS overall, or is that a bit on the higher side?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

A bit on the higher side. We are looking at about INR 560 crore - INR 570 crore.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Got it. Thank you. And did DHDT contribute much in this past quarter?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Not. Zero. Zero. We still are facing some teething issues. The product, the chemistry which was done in lab and pilot is behaving very differently on plant scale. Every day, we are learning a lot of new things about it. Probably it will take at least four weeks more to saturate the process before we get into commercial scales.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Fair enough. Just last thing from my side, on the two new projects, performance chemicals, I guess one is coming up in 3Q, and then the other one is.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yes, about August. You can expect that we'll start by August this year, so about three months from now. Other, we are expecting to start by February 2026, so additional six months from that day, from August.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Got it.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

This is a very exciting year. I mean, a lot of new products are coming online.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Yeah. Just wondering if it's possible to share a little more detail on these two, especially there was one product that was catering to water treatment. Any sense of the capacity over there, the addressable market?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

They both are around 10,000 ton capacities.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Okay.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Closer to commercialization, I think in the next con call, we'll give a little bit more picture on the performance chemical products.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

Okay. Great. What sort of market share will we be targeting?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

I think next con call, we'll have far more better clarity on commercialization, actual dates, volumes, and also what markets. We will give more detail during that period of time.

Abhijit Akella
Director of Research, Kotak Securities

All right. We'll wait for that. Thank you so much, Siddharth. All the best.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Absolutely. Thank you so much.

Moderator

Thank you. Before we take the next question, we would like to remind the participants to press star and one to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Naushad Chaudhary from Aditya Birla AMC. Please go ahead.

Naushad Chaudhary
Research Analyst, Aditya Birla AMC

Hi. Thanks for the opportunity for your clarification. On the R&D side, if you can share how much we have spent in this financial year on R&D, the recurring.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

INR 5.5 crore.

Naushad Chaudhary
Research Analyst, Aditya Birla AMC

INR 5.5 crore. And we have roughly 90 staff in R&D, right?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

95. Yes, sir.

Naushad Chaudhary
Research Analyst, Aditya Birla AMC

Okay. INR 5.5 crore , this entire is recurring expenditure, right?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Around INR 3.5 crore is the revenue expenditure, and balance is capital expenditure, which is one time.

Naushad Chaudhary
Research Analyst, Aditya Birla AMC

Okay. So with this, the rough calculation suggests roughly INR 400 lakh - INR 450 lakh average cost per staff in R&D. Is this the industry standard? Because if we look at the other companies like SRF, PI, even at very large scale, their R&D cost per staff is substantially higher versus our number. How should we read this?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

You should be happy. We are saving more money with higher productivity.

Naushad Chaudhary
Research Analyst, Aditya Birla AMC

Despite nine PhDs we have and smaller size of R&D team, shouldn't this be at least at par of industry? Because in terms of percentage of PhDs also looks 10% of the R&D staff, which is quite.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

I think important is output rather than quantitative. I think you should focus more on qualitative rather than quantitative.

Naushad Chaudhary
Research Analyst, Aditya Birla AMC

I'm just trying to understand how are we able to manage it at substantially low cost versus how the industry operates?

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

The number which you calculated, this is an average number. However, there are resources which are, I mean, cost-wise, at much higher number than what you have calculated because this is an average number. There are chemists, so basic chemists. Yeah. Work pressures just passed out from college. That is also getting included in your 90 account. That is also pulling down the average.

Naushad Chaudhary
Research Analyst, Aditya Birla AMC

Okay. I was talking about the average cost of the peers as well, but anyways, we'll take this offline. Thank you.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Sure. Sure. It will be nice. Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Prasad Vadnere from HDFC Securities. Please go ahead.

Prasad Vadnere
Equity Research Associate, HDFC Securities

Hi, sir. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Sir, I wanted to get more understanding about which type of HALS we are looking to push in domestic market apart from HALS 770.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

All 622, 944, 119, 783. All of them have domestic market as well, right?

Prasad Vadnere
Equity Research Associate, HDFC Securities

Okay. Okay. Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Rohit Nagraj from B&K Securities. Please go ahead.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

Thanks for the opportunity. On the HALS front, we've said that we've touched about 2,000 metric tons, and domestic demand will be about 2,500 metric tons. Which and all are the key markets for exports that we are looking at? In terms of competition, how is the strategy placed for the sale?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Europe, U.S., Middle East, South Africa. These are some of the markets which we are aggressively getting into, apart from India, of course. India is a home ground. Yeah.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

In terms of competition, what are we looking at? Because I think the competitor would already be present there. From our perspective.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Price advantage.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

Okay. Okay.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Price advantage, non-Europe, non-Chinese.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

Right. Got it. Got it. The second question is, now next year, you alluded that we are expecting about INR 210 crore from HALs. What is the kind of EBITDA margins that we are looking at? In FY 2027, when we further scale up, what is the kind of EBITDA margin we probably will be based on the operating leverage?

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

At company level, we look for 40% EBITDA margin because it's not only HALS, the pharma intermediate, and performance chemical one, which are more margin-accurative compared to HALS, which will lead to better margin at the company level. We look forward to around 40% EBITDA margin at console level.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

Right. That's for FY 2026, FY 2027 as well, right?

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

That's for FY 2026.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

Okay. And consolidated?

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yeah. That's on consolidated basis.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

Right. On console level, next year, FY 2026, what kind of growth are we looking at?

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

At console level, for the parent company, it's existing products which are growing at industry growth rate of 5% - 6%. For the new product launches, there will be a significant growth in terms of sales value, which will absorb these overheads and depreciation cost. I mean, the growth rate could be in line with what we have recorded this year, which is in the range of 18% - 20%.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

That's on the consolidated level you're talking about?

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yes.

Ankur Periwal
SVP, Axis Capital

Okay. Okay. Right. All right. Fair enough. That's all from my side. Thank you so much and all the best.

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Krishan Parwani from GM Financial. Please go ahead.

Krishnan Parwani
Lead Equity Research Analyst, JM Financial

Yes. Hi, sir. Congrats on the setup numbers and breaking even in the subsidiary. Just a couple of points from my side. First, have you started production of barbituric acid?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

We will start by August, month of August.

Krishnan Parwani
Lead Equity Research Analyst, JM Financial

Okay. On the BHT, have you seen any contribution or not yet?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

We have already sold some quantities in the US, and you will see progressively the volumes are increasing over the next few quarters.

Krishnan Parwani
Lead Equity Research Analyst, JM Financial

Okay. That's great. Coming to HALS, I wanted to understand at this point of time, which grade do you think could go in phase two?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Sorry, go again?

Krishnan Parwani
Lead Equity Research Analyst, JM Financial

I'm just saying at this point of time in the HALS, which grades do you think you could go for expansion in phase two?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

It could be the higher one, like 944, 119, and the newer ones which we are trying to make, which are 2020. I mean, these are all high polymeric HALS.

Krishnan Parwani
Lead Equity Research Analyst, JM Financial

Okay. So basically targeting like the $8 - $9 per kg kind of products, right?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Absolutely.

Krishnan Parwani
Lead Equity Research Analyst, JM Financial

Okay. And just one clarification on HALS. I think I missed your earlier comment. You highlighted 10,000 tons of sales with probably about INR 570 - INR 580 a kg realization. That comes out to about INR 580 crore sales. Is that the peak for HALs by FY2028 from the INR 300 crore CAPEX equity?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yes. More or less.

Current realization?

At current realization, of course. If the realization increases over the period of time, then this realization will also improve.

Krishnan Parwani
Lead Equity Research Analyst, JM Financial

Got it. Plus whatever capacity that we have, probably INR 30 crore - INR 40 crore of HAL capacity in unit three. That is all correct?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yeah. Yeah.

Krishnan Parwani
Lead Equity Research Analyst, JM Financial

Okay. Okay. Got it, sir. Thank you for answering my question, sir. Wish you all the best.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Thank you so much, Krish.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Shivani from Monarch Network Capital. Please go ahead.

Shiwani Kumari
Equity Research Analyst, Monarch Network Capital

Hi, Siddharth and Pratik. Good evening. Congrats on good set of numbers. Most of my questions are asked, but a couple of them is one, could you give a split between price and volume growth in FY 2025?

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yeah. So around 17%, around 25% was the volume impact. And realization and low realization offset that impact were around 8%. That is how you see around 17% growth in the sales for full year FY 2025.

Shiwani Kumari
Equity Research Analyst, Monarch Network Capital

Sure. I just wanted to reconfirm that for the three new products, which are DHDT, BHT, and barbituric acid, we haven't had any significant contribution in FY 2025. Am I correct?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Barbituric acid is in Clean Science, which we expect to start in August. BHT, yes, it's a small product. I mean, a small contribution this quarter. And DHDT, as I mentioned, we still are facing some teething issues in the facility. So hopefully in the next couple of weeks, we expect the plant to start commercial production.

Shiwani Kumari
Equity Research Analyst, Monarch Network Capital

Sure. That was helpful. Thank you so much. All the best.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Thanks.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Abhigyan Srivastav from Marsilius Investment Managers. Please go ahead.

Abhigyan Srivastav
Equity Research Analyst, Marcellus Investment Managers

Hi, sir. Congratulations on the good set of numbers. I have two questions. The first question is, why has COGS gone up this quarter?

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Hi. The reason is the product mix. That has led to a higher RMC as a percentage of sales during this quarter. If you note, there has been a meaningful growth in pharma segment, where the margin contribution is lower than the performance segment. That has led to a slight increase in the RMC as a percentage of sales.

Abhigyan Srivastav
Equity Research Analyst, Marcellus Investment Managers

Awesome. The second question is, what are the key cost items that are driving up the other expenses? Are these cost items recurring?

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Also, actually, if you see sequentially, it's CSR expense, which has led to a higher other expense. That is the only item which has led to an increase in the other expense. Otherwise, the other expenses are in line with last quarter.

Abhigyan Srivastav
Equity Research Analyst, Marcellus Investment Managers

Okay. Okay. Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Rohit Nagaraj from B&K Securities. Please go ahead.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

Thanks for the follow-up. For FY 2026, given that the two performance chemicals projects will be capitalized, what is the overall CAPEX number that we are looking at?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

300 crores overall. For FY 2026, could be between INR 200.

FY 2026, 300.

FY 2026, INR 300 crores. Sorry.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

Okay. Beyond that, we do not have currently any projects which are slated for FY 2027 as of now.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

No, no, no. We have, but we will announce once these two big products come online, and then we will announce the subsequent CAPEXs.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

Right. No announcement.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Sorry?

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

No announcement.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

No announcement.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

Right. Generally, from announcement to the actual commissioning, it is 12.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Nine months.

Rohit Nagraj
Equity Research Analyst, B&K Securities

Okay. Okay. Fair enough. That's all. Thank you so much.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Jason Soans from IDBI Capital. Please go ahead.

Jason Soans
Lead Research Analyst, IDBI Capital

Question. Just wanted to.

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Mr. Soans, you are not audible. Could you please repeat your question?

Jason Soans
Lead Research Analyst, IDBI Capital

Yeah. Am I audible now?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yes.

Jason Soans
Lead Research Analyst, IDBI Capital

Yes. Yes. Sure. So thanks for taking my question. Just wanted to understand, sir, before we started HALS, I mean, we used to clock in margins of around 43% - 44%. Okay? Now I understand with the new HALS and all, our margins have taken a slight dip, which is in line with our strategy. Now coming from 42% - 43% to 40%, is that fair enough? I mean, going ahead, 40% should be maintained. I was just under the impression that when you stock earlier HALS, you have probably clocked targeting margin of 15% - 25%. I actually expected a sharper margin drop on a console level. It seems like we are doing better than expected. Just any reasons for the same?

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Maybe. So Jason, we have never alluded to any sharp dilution in the margin. We have always maintained that EBITDA margin could remain in that narrow range of 38% - 42%, plus minus 1% or 2% to 40%. As these new performance chemical and pharma intermediate products scale up, we expect margins to improve because these are more margin-accretive compared to HALS. HALS is important from a point of view. It will give us scale benefit. The TAM of HALS is the largest. The ramp-up is, I mean, each block can give equivalent of INR 500 crore revenue, whereas the other block TAM are smaller.

Jason Soans
Lead Research Analyst, IDBI Capital

Sure.

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Plus, sorry, plus HALS has exposed us to a very different variety of customers, different chemistries, which will be useful. Like for instance, on hydrogenation chemistry has been useful to getting into newer products.

Jason Soans
Lead Research Analyst, IDBI Capital

Sure. Sure, sir. Yeah. I got that. Just, sir, I just missed the volume and the realization breakup for if you could give it for the year also if possible.

Pratik Bora
VP, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yeah. Yeah. That is what for full year FY 2025, 17% increase in sales was led by volume. But 25% impact was volume, while lower realization offset the positive impact was around 8%. That is how you come to a 17% increase in sales.

Jason Soans
Lead Research Analyst, IDBI Capital

Okay. Okay. Sure.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

Jason Soans
Lead Research Analyst, IDBI Capital

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Those are all my questions. Thank you so much.

Moderator

Thank you. Participants who wish to ask a question may press star and one now. The next question is from the line of Rohan Mehta from Ficom Family Office. Please go ahead.

Rohan Mehta
Analyst, Ficom Family Office

Hello sir. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Am I audible?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Yes, you are.

Rohan Mehta
Analyst, Ficom Family Office

Perfect. Firstly, I wanted to understand what your outlook is for BHA and TBHQ from a global standpoint. Secondly, are you evaluating customized antioxidant blends for, let's say, some key clients, basically forward integrating into antioxidants? If so, what is generally a margin profile under these blends?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

No. We are not getting into blends. That's what our customers do. We don't like getting into our customers' shoe.

Rohan Mehta
Analyst, Ficom Family Office

Okay. Okay. What is your outlook on TBHQ and BHA?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

TBHQ is a decent, I mean, both the products are decent products. I mean, they are growing at about 4% - 5% industry standard. TBHQ is quite an edible oil business. As edible oil production increases, TBHQ consumption increases. BHA is more about pet food consumption. As that increases, BHA increases. BHA plus BHT go hand in hand. Yeah, there is a decent and good outlook for both the products. Both have different avenues, different markets, but both are growing at 4% - 5% industry norms.

Rohan Mehta
Analyst, Ficom Family Office

Perfect. Perfect. Thank you so much.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Agam Shah, an individual investor. Please go ahead.

A quick question. Can you talk on the CAPEX for this year as well as for FY 2027?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

This year, CAPEX, we just mentioned two performance chemicals, one starting in August, one starting in February. FY 2027, we will announce probably six months later or.

In terms of amount for this year, it will be INR 150 crore?

crore. INR 300 crore.

INR 300 crores. Okay. Okay. And so altogether, this year, CAPEX plus FY 2024 and FY 2026. When can we reach, let's say, the inflection point and all the products start kicking in and the growth kind of shoots off?

All put together is what you are asking us?

Yes. So all put together where we can know the growth really takes off.

It should be close. I mean, in terms of revenue?

Yeah. Revenue.

Two and a half thousand tons. INR 2,500 crore - INR 3,000 crore.

That should be reaching possibly in the next three years. How should we look at it?

Too much forward statement. We are trying our best.

Okay. And the margins can also increase at that time?

No, no, no. I mean, these are only, I mean, if we would want to maintain similar margins, it would be a.

One year at a time.

I mean, it will be great to hold such margins already in the business.

Okay. Thanks a lot. Wish you the best.

Thank you so much.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Jason Soans from IDBI Capital. Please go ahead.

Jason Soans
Lead Research Analyst, IDBI Capital

Thanks for taking my question again. I just wanted to know, sir, I mean, sometime back, MEHQ, we were seeing some weakness in demand for MEHQ. Of course, realizations were down. I believe they are still kind of soft and we are more volume-driven. Now, just wanted to understand, are there any tailwinds for MEHQ to grow ahead in conjunction with more consumption of acrylic acid? Any tailwinds you see from that perspective? Again, sometime back going, we had.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

We are based on volume. Opening remark, that our volumes have been the highest in the history of the company. Okay? Prices have been the lowest. That is why you are seeing these numbers. In terms of growth, I think for MEHQ, it should be around 4% - 5% on a year-on-year basis.

Jason Soans
Lead Research Analyst, IDBI Capital

Sure. Sure. And so.

Volume growth.

Yeah. Previously, again, in some few calls back, we had alluded to those issues around Guaiacol due to the cough syrups and etc. Have those been? That's all been ironed out, right?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

All resolved.

All resolved.

Jason Soans
Lead Research Analyst, IDBI Capital

Okay. Great. Great. Those are all my questions. Thank you so much.

Moderator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Shiwani from Monarch Network Capital. Please go ahead.

Shiwani Kumari
Equity Research Analyst, Monarch Network Capital

Thank you for taking my follow-up question. I just wanted to get sense of the two performance chemicals which will be commercialized in FY 2026. What is the asset turn we are expecting? I think in FY 2026, there will not be any significant revenue contribution. In FY 2027, how are we looking at contribution from these two performance chemicals?

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

I think we will talk about these performance chemicals closer to the date. We will take one product at a time. I think the first one, as I said, is going to start in August. In the next call, we will talk a little bit more on the product.

Shiwani Kumari
Equity Research Analyst, Monarch Network Capital

Sure. Okay. Thank you.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, as there are no further questions from the participants, I now hand the consents over to Mr. Siddharth Sikchi for closing comments.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Thank you so much, all of you, for your time to attend this phone call and understanding more about the company. I think with this, I close the meeting. Thank you all and have a great week ahead.

Moderator

Thank you. On behalf of Clean Science and Technology Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines.

Siddharth Sikchi
Executive Director, Clean Science and Technology Limited

Thank you.

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