Ladies and gentlemen, good day and welcome to Ambuja Cements Limited Q3 FY 2026 Earnings Conference Call hosted by Antique Stock Broking. As a reminder, all participants' line will be in 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 touch tone phone. Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Krupal Maniar from Antique Stock Broking. Thank you, and over to you.
Thank you, Ikra. Good evening and a warm welcome to everyone. On behalf of Antique Stock Broking, we welcome you all to the third quarter FY 2026 earning call of Ambuja Cements Limited. I will now hand over the call to Mr. Deepak Balwani, Head of Investor Relations. Thanks, and over to you, sir.
Thank you. On behalf of Ambuja Cements, I am pleased to welcome all the participants to our quarter FY 2026 earnings call. Ambuja Cements Limited is part of the diversified Adani portfolio and the world's ninth-largest building material solution company. Before we start, please note that this call may include forward-looking statements based on our current beliefs and expectations. These are not guarantees of future performance and may involve unforeseen risks and uncertainty. We are pleased to have with us on the call Mr. Vinod Bahety, Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Rohit Soni, Chief Financial Officer. Now I invite Mr. Vinod Bahety to provide his valuable insights on the quarterly performance.
Thank you, Deepak. Good evening and a warm welcome to everyone joining us for the third quarter results of FY 2026. This has been a decisive and strategically important quarter for Ambuja Cements. We delivered industry-leading performance, growing our volumes at 2 x the industry average. This was supported by stronger market execution, improved availability across both trade and non-trade channels, and higher base capacity utilization. Our actions on premiumization and mix improvement helped us capture significantly higher market share, better realization than the peers, and thereby reinforcing our leadership position. The operating environment remained favorable throughout the quarter. Cement demand growth was driven by infrastructure activity, sustained housing demand, and a recovery in the rural construction after a favorable monsoon. A defining development this quarter has been the proposed amalgamation of ACC and Orient Cement with Ambuja Cements.
This marks the beginning of a unified one cement platform that will accelerate our growth trajectory, support EBITDA expansion, strengthen operational excellence leverage, improve logistics density, and enhance capital efficiency. We see this driving long-term value creation over the next 24 to 36 months. Regulatory approvals are progressing quite well. We are seeing an early operational success across the acquired assets. The capacity utilization for the quarter improved meaningfully for the acquired assets at 58%, improvement of 21% compared to the last year's year-on-year, which was at 37%. Utilization had further improved. The exit of December, by the way, is 65%. Although my quarter average is 58% for the acquired assets, but the exit is at 65%. We are confident and looking forward to achieve almost 80% on these acquired assets.
These outcomes reflect disciplined execution of our integration and optimization playbook. Pricing has entered January on firmer ground as we are seeing a similar uptick in price in January, along with double-digit volume growth. Southern markets are leading increases in the range of INR 15-INR 20 for non-trade, while the northern market has witnessed price increase in the range of INR 5-INR 10 in non-trade range. Importantly, these hikes have helped making a departure from the rollback-prone patterns of the previous years. With a comprehensive focus on value and market share, realizations improved INR 5 per bag as compared to last year. Trade pricing continues to outperform non-trade, with gaps widening up to INR 31 per bag as non-trade remains more sensitive to the infra-led off-take and seasonal disruptions. On capacity, we commissioned a 2.4 million tons of Marwar grinding unit ahead of the schedule.
With this addition, our total capacity now stands at 109 million tons per annum. We were looking earlier at 120 million tons in FY 2026. 2 million tons of Sindri and Jamul has also been included here. In addition to our 118 million tons of target. But the Warisaliganj commissioning is now scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. So there is a delay of three months in Warisaliganj , such that now we will be exiting March at 115 million tons as compared to earlier 118. Alongside this, we are unlocking an additional 15 million tons of debottlenecking capacity at lower CapEx cost. These initiatives will provide a clear and capital efficient pathway to reach our aim of hitting 155 million tons by March of 2028, which will position us strongly for sustained growth.
Premiumization continues to be a powerful value driver for us. Premium cement volumes accounted for 35% of the trade sales, and in absolute terms, it increased 31% compared to last year. Amongst the highest in the industry. Ambuja Kawach and ACC Gold, they remain our blockbuster premium cement products under the super premium segment. GST reduction only has helped in terms of shifting of the consumer preference towards the higher quality performance-driven products. Cost leadership remains a key strategic advantage, although I'm sure you have seen that in this quarter, my costs have gone up and you would be keen to know about the reasons, but I can only give you more details when I come to the cost part. But we have delivered visible year-on-year reductions across the value chain.
Kiln fuel costs declined by 6%, power costs reduced 15%, green power share increased by 15% to now 37%, and logistics costs reduced by 1%. Our narrative on reaching INR 3,650 per ton of cost by March 2028 continues. A little bit more on the cost, so that while our December quarter comes at INR 4,500 a ton, as compared to our September quarter, it is almost INR 250 hike. Right in the beginning, I can highlight that these are specific one-time expenses because my exit of December is below INR 4,000. December month. So that this INR 4,500, I would say, is an aberration of one of these initiatives. For example, the brand transition, the B2B and the B2C segment. As you know that we have introduced and more larger amplification of Adani Cement brand.
We have also done a substantial overhauling of the assets of Sanghi, Penna, which has seen a significant capacity improvement. I must also tell you that Sanghi is now operating the December month exit is almost at, for clinker, 80%, and for cement, 65%. Penna is also showing a very healthy improvement in the capacity utilization. There were one or two plants which had some unfortunate equipment failures, and one of them was Sandur for the Penna and Jamul for ACC. But these are under now going to be operational very soon. So these are expenditures which have come in terms of the quarter, but this will not be there for the March quarter. Therefore, exit of December already, as I said, we are below INR 4,000 a ton. Coming back to my commentary, our renewable energy footprint now stands at almost 900 MW, strengthening both sustainability and cost resilience.
The real benefits of this 900 MW trends will come in coming quarters because many of this power, as of now, I'm selling in the market because it will require certain approvals in terms of consumption at my site, but that will happen very soon and therefore, the benefit will significantly come in the coming quarter. But the good thing is these assets are operational and I'm able to sell this power in the market. We expect to reach 1,122 MW by FY 2027, providing this long-term insulation in terms of the energy price volatility. This green power, when I consume capitally, as I said, it will significantly improve my overall power cost per unit. As of now, I can tell you it is almost closer to INR 6.1 per unit.
When I look at the competition, they have an advantage over there, but that advantage will sooner come to Adani Cement once this is fully operational and we are able to consume it. Digital intelligence continues to be central to our operating model. We have launched CiNOC, Cement Intelligence Network Operating Center, which is AI-enabled central control system. Lots of applications, user interfaces, simplified apps and smart tabs have been given to our people. I strongly believe that this will be a game changer and will bring substantial efficiency and productivity with power of analytics to the cement business. Both IT and OT will have a significant improvement. Our ecosystem continues to deepen our aggregation advantage. We expanded engagement across the priority industry platforms. You are all aware of our engagement with CREDAI, BAI, NAREDCO, Institute of Town Planners, India, amongst many.
These are first of its kind institutional partnerships which we have initiated in the last nine months, and they are giving us significant results. On-the-ground programs and brand activations continue to build trust in our product quality and services. FutureX, which now engages almost 750 + institutions. Some of you would know that we launched this program on September 15th , which has turned out to be the largest industry academia initiative. Almost now it encompasses 1.3 million students, which will give us a significant advantage to bring the synergies of academia with the industry apart from getting the mind share and market share. In terms of the consolidated financial performance, we delivered a strong performance this quarter, supported by higher volumes, improved realizations, and discipline.
On the cost, although as I said, the December month has been a significant improvement and which will percolate down to March quarter as well. We reported our highest ever quarterly sales volume at almost 18.9 million tons, up 17%, and the market share improved to 16.6%. By the way, we have been giving a consistent double-digit volume growth for the last nine months. So even if you look at my nine months volume growth, it is in the range of almost 19%. On a normalized basis, we achieved the highest quarterly revenue at INR 10,277 crores in the third series of the year, Q3, up 20%, supported by INR 5 per bag improvement in realizations. I think you will find some of the industry players have seen a decline in the prices year-on-year.
But our focus on market, our focus on premium cement, our focus on blended cement, and you will see it more accelerated focus. It is now giving us a delta improvement in the realization, which in this case has improved by INR 5 per bag year-on-year. PAT for the quarter was INR 328 crores, a jump up to 58%. Again, for the sake of clarification, we have put an entire table on the one-off exceptional items so that PAT is apple-to-apple comparable. Unlike if you go with the reported numbers, you will find a steep fall, but that is incorrect because there are exceptional items sitting in terms of the income tax refunds and one time off the items or the excise duty drawback for Himachal, which I have clarified in my IR deck, also in my reported numbers also in press release.
So that is for apple-to-apple comparison, PAT is up to 58%. Operating EBITDA was INR 1,353 crores, up 53%. Again, I have given a clarification that the Himachal excise drawback is a one-off item. Last time also, you all had suggested the same thing, INR 635 crores. So when you remove that, my EBITDA is up 53% year-on-year, and the per metric ton EBITDA is closer to INR 718 per ton, up 31%. I have given you some explanation of earlier when in second quarter, September, when my EBITDA was almost INR 1,020 per ton. The delta of INR 250 per ton ballpark, for example, is what I told you in the element of cost, which is slightly higher as compared to last quarter. But as I said, December exit is phenomenally below 4,000. The EBITDA performance was supported by year-on-year, which is 2% cost improvement.
Kiln cost declined by 6%. I can tell you that the kiln rate is better for me, but the kiln efficiency, when I look at some benchmarks, I am still at 25 to 30 kilo-calorie heat consumption higher, which is a area which is clearly earmarked for us to run down. Power cost reduced by 15% on back of the green power share, which is increased by almost 15%. My logistics cost, and there is a good scope for me to further reduce my logistics cost. But as of now, it is reduced by, say, 1%. The diluted earning per share for the quarter is INR 0.82. Net worth is almost at INR 70,000 crores. To be precise, INR 69,854 crores. It increased by the INR 361 crores which is closer to the PAT which we have made for the quarter.
Company remains debt-free, CRISIL and CARE AAA stable and A1+ ratings, which are the highest in the country. From the operational excellence, friends, our operations have strengthened on back of disciplined execution capacity, expansion and network optimization. In terms of the low CapEx logistic initiatives which, for example, are on the track. Some of them, for example, so we have already ordered the vessels, almost seven of them, which will be delivered to us by somewhere like mid of 2027. We also are working right now in terms of the EV for which we already have given some orders. You will see more of this. We also are putting the blenders at the plants. We are also debottlenecking on the logistics. We are also putting a sharp increase in terms of the production of the premium cement.
All of this, for example, will bring a substantial improvement in the overall state plant efficiency. By the way, we have substantially run down the SKUs and which used to be multiple SKUs from a plant. Almost 30%, 40% of that efficiency has also been brought in. On the digitalization, I have covered it, so I will not repeat more. On the ESG and sustainability, this quarter marked another step forward in strengthening our climate and sustainability leadership. Efficiency improvement from the modern assets, and by the way, more and more modern assets because this March quarter itself, we will have almost around 8 million tons of cement which will be up and running and commissioned. These efficient new assets will help to average out the overall efficiency factors. It will help me to bring down the lead distances.
As of now, I see that my lead is relatively higher compared to some of the peers, but that is obviously in terms of the location advantage what others have since they have number of GUs. But in my case, as we move with new assets, it will come down. We accelerated our breakthrough on DECARB decarbonization pathways while we have been the first in the universe in terms of the commercial scale installation of Coolbrook's RDH, which is rotary dynamic heater technology for the kiln electrification. This will help me substantially to improve my AFR. As you know that we are doing it in Boyareddypalli plant in Andhra. Additionally, the Indo-Swedish carbon capture unit pilot project in partnership with IIT Bombay and the government of Sweden is already in the process.
We have become the first Indian cement company to adopt the TNFD framework, bringing our nature-related disclosures in line with the global benchmarks. On the ESG front, friends, I can assure you that we are front runners and we will not leave any stone unturned to achieve the ESG desired parameters. On people, community, and capability building, our organization is becoming younger. As I told you last time also, my plants are becoming younger. We are becoming more digital savvy, and we are more focusing on smart execution. Across the communities we are expanding access to future-ready skills through robotics, drone labs, rural KPOs, so on and so forth. I think so in terms of our community engagement, it is on a very strong footing, and therefore you will see more approvals coming at the various public hearings and all.
Brand, customer, and stakeholder engagement has been very strong. Our presence across the 29 high-impact industry platforms enable us directly engage with more than 38,000 key stakeholders, including builders, developers, engineers, architects, and policymakers, which I mentioned to you some of the great institutions like CREDAI, BAI, NAREDCO, and so forth. It is giving us a direct interface. Brand visibility remained widespread with outreach and activations touching over 300 million individuals across the cinema, OTT, digital, so on and so forth. I think our team is very forward in terms of using the digital media. In terms of the technical services, which is one of the key strengths of Adani Cement, and I have a very sizable team on technical services. We have strengthened considerably. What we call it as ACT, Adani Certified Technology site, which are like the houses which are built by our premium cement.
This is growing every quarter and this quarter we had almost 36,000 ACT sites. We have a network of 70,000+ contractor influencers. We have almost taken 400 workshops and so on and so forth. So on the technical engagement also we are on a very strong footing. Now, friends, I'm on the last concluding for my opening speech in terms of industry, I'm very positive. I've been positive for last four quarters. At the beginning of this financial year, in the first quarter itself I told, I see a demand growth of almost 8%. In between, there were headwinds of the war and monsoon and seasonal dynamics and so on so forth.
You are seeing a strong revival coming back and therefore, FY 2026, I strongly believe the industry will close at almost 8% growth of demand, which resembles also like 1.1 x of the GDP of almost 7.5. So demand comes to around 8%. Exit of end of December was robust and with demand strengthening from early December and carrying into January also. I mentioned to you that even in January you have seen a good level of price improvements, and we are also seeing a similar trend expected in February. So the overall revenue are going to improve. It is expected almost, as I said, 8% demand growth and almost 2%-3% improvement, another improvement in the coming quarter, which will be healthy finish for the year.
Against this backdrop, our R&D-backed customized cement solutions, you will hear it very soon that we are also doing some specific R&D-backed customized cements, and that is going to strengthen my value-added products of cement and thereby the weighted average realizations. Institutional demand is very healthy but growing focus is on the blended cement which will consume lots of fly ash or slag. That is what, for example, will be a key driver for me. Currently, my share of trade and non-trade is almost 65 is trade and non-trade is 35. Down the line, it will be moving towards 70/30. By the way, end of December, exit of December, we are seeing this trend of 67, 20, 33, and January already we are at 70/30. That is for example, what we are focusing more on the trade channels which is going to give healthy kind of realizations.
Overall, strategies are working very well on the market-led leadership and the cost leadership is going to unfold in quarters to come, as already started with December at almost below INR 4,000 and I am seeing the same trend which will follow through in the March quarter. Needless to mention that all the benefits of AFR, WHRS, green power, new cement capacities, gives me lots of confidence that our journey to achieve INR 3,800 per ton of cost by March 2027, INR 3,650 by March 2028, that conviction and confidence continues. Thank you. Although it was a little longer, but I thought I will go into more details. Now back to the moderator.
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. 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 Navin Sahadeo from ICICI Securities. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Good evening, sir. Hello.
Yeah, Navin. Good evening.
Yeah. Good evening, sir. So, two questions. One is on your volumes. So in the quarter you have reported about 17% growth. But if I were to just exclude Orient from it, which you have reported I mean, first of all, congratulations for the transparent entity-wise reporting. It helps us really understand and even pose this question in the first place. So congratulations on that. My question was- If I exclude Orient from the total volumes, then the volume growth comes to more like 6% and even I'm assuming Penna would have ramped up. My question was that if the realization decline, as I see, is much less than peers, so is it that in Q3 we are focusing more on premiumization or on pricing or value versus volume, and which is why we saw a slightly lesser growth in other regions, if I may think it that way?
How should one look at them incrementally going ahead about volumes X of South from a market share and growth point of view?
Okay. So you had two questions. So Navin, are you through with your both questions?
Sorry. My second question then was on the renewable energy. 898 out of 1,122 is already commissioned, which is nearly 80%. But in your opening comments, you also said that you are not able to utilize it fully pending approvals, so you are selling it in the market. Is it that whatever you are selling in the market, how is that reported in the first place, and then what kind of savings, by when can we expect, and how much savings in the renewable space?
Okay, Navin, let's come to the most important question in terms of the volume growth. I think 17%, which includes all the entities, Ambuja as a console, year-on-year. You are right that in the previous year quarter, Orient was not there. I can do the math and Orient, if I exclude, that would come somewhere like 8%. If I completely remove all the acquired assets, and then if I go with the base capacities, Navin, that comes to, in fact, that is a tad better than the industry. It comes to closer to around 6%. Now, which would mean the base capacities of Ambuja and ACC. If you do a similar thing for other companies, you will find that those companies are at somewhere like 3%-4%.
I am not naming anyone, but generally, that is the trend, but we are actually better than that.
Okay.
Second question. Second point, you are right that in terms of the gear shift, of course, now the strong brand of Ambuja and ACC, and now with the loaded power of Adani, and therefore now it's like Adani Ambuja, Adani ACC. Our whole larger drive is to regain the market share on the trade side. Many companies will end up doing a larger share of volume because they will end up doing on the non-trade sides and all. Our focus will be to regain the leadership position of Adani Cement on the trade side on back of the strong brand equity, what we have. Therefore, forward-looking, I can say 70/30. I mentioned in my opening remarks 65/35 to now the exit of December to 67 to 33, and then in March, although in the month of January, I am seeing 70/30 and gradually down the line 75/25, for example.
So that is our wish list and are working to achieve. That will definitely help me to improve my realization. It will help me to penetrate more premiumization, and therefore the NSP will be better than the industry peers. This is a clear earmarked strategy and which is played in the quarter of December, and more so you will see it actually being played in the month of January as well as the coming quarters. Which also brings another point that the digital strength will help me more in direct engagement with the, and simplified working with the dealers and therefore the retailers and therefore the end customer. Therefore, I am very confident the whole logistics and the technology optimizers and the algorithms will help me on a speed of orders and all. Therefore, the blended cement and the trade will be a higher growth percentage.
Coming back to your question on the renewable energy. As of now, renewable energy, there are two factors. One is certain government approval. Second is also that my capacities when they come up and running. For I told you, 8 million of the grinding unit, then also the clinker in Bhatapara Line 3, the clinker in Maratha, which is expected in first quarter of the next year. Clinkery facilities obviously consume more power. So as things move forward and when my new capacities come fully operational, they will be able to draw more power. Pending that, therefore, you can say that I am ahead in terms of power, and therefore I am also able to sell those power in the market. And I have a combination of both wind power and solar power. As of now, this income of power, it resides under the other operating income in the P&L.
Yeah. So that is how it is. If I net it off in my power costs, then it will be much lower. But from an accounting perspective, right now this third-party sale is residing under the other operating income. Yeah. Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Ritesh Shah from Investec. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Hi, sir. A couple of questions. Sir, first is, how are we looking at the Jaypee assets which are now sitting at AEL? Would it make logical sense for Ambuja to digest it based on what AEL decides upon? That's the first question, sir.
Yeah, you complete, Ritesh, and then I can in one time I can-
Yes, sir. Second question is more on accounting. In ACC press release, we have written that plant maintenance from next fiscal will be amortized over 12 months. I just wanted to understand the rationale for it. The other accounting-related question was in the notes to accounts. Again, we have indicated that with respect to coal sales as other operating income, now basically we net it off under power and fuel. In the earlier quarters, we have seen something similar for sales promotion expense. Just wanted to understand the thought process for the all three line items. One was maintenance, second is coal sales, and third is promotion expense. Thank you.
Yeah, Ritesh. Thank you. Good observations. First, Ritesh, on the Jaypee assets. Last time also, I think a similar question had come, rather, and I said that AEL is a separately listed company and it would be better that this question is asked to them. As of now, I will keep it on an arm's length basis and therefore, I would say no comment right now from Adani Cement from Ambuja Cements on this. Second is, in terms of the accounting of the plant maintenance. This is very important, Ritesh, because otherwise what happens is, so far as of now, the accounting has been done. For example, say December quarter, the accounting results into distorted sometimes picture of a quarter because the cost gets booked on an actual basis when the maintenance happens.
What now we want to bring it, which is more logically to all of you also, that this amortization will happen over 12 months so that the quarters don't get distorted with the scheduled plant maintenances. Right now, the accounting policy has been to book it in the quarter when the maintenance activity actually happens. Yeah. That is a very proactive step so that all of you are able to then properly look at the quarter in a real sense. So far as your third question is in terms of the coal sales and which is whether it is netting off my other OpEx, I will just want some details from my CFO.
Yeah.
Yeah.
In ACC, because of the MSA, what we have between the one cement platform. The coal sale, which happens earlier, we were netting it off on the expenditure. Given the discussions which we had with our auditors, we have to show it up gross at both ends. That is going under the revenue from operations instead of netting off from the power and fuel and the value was INR 315 crores for the period.
Sure. Sir, can I just squeeze in one more question?
But again, Ritesh, I think the moot point here is, I just want to again check that there is no impact.
Perfect. It's only grossing up.
It is only the grossing up.
Yes.
No impact on the P&L item.
Absolutely.
Right. No impact on the EBITDA. Right. Ritesh, over to you again.
Yep. Last question was basically how should we understand the change in inventory on a sequential basis at Ambuja console level?
Change in inventory. What is your question specifically?
It's moved from -30 to -84. The swing is quite substantial.
Yeah. Rohit, you want to address that?
Ritesh, if I can answer here. If you take in quarter two, that's where we have a big swing, and that's predominantly on account of the stock buildup, which happens in the quarter. That's the seasonality of the business, which is a low quarter sale from that perspective. So you'll have buildup on the cement stocks. You also have a buildup on the clinker stocks, which gets pushed out in quarter three, quarter four, and quarter one where it gets smoother now. If you see in this current quarter, we don't have much of it reflecting it. It's predominantly on buildup of the quarter two, which we have. Otherwise, it's a seasonality which impacts, there's nothing more to add on to it.
Sure. Thank you so much for the answers. Thank you.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Rahul Gupta from Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead.
Hi, and thank you for taking my question. My first question is, in the September quarter, you had mentioned that a majority of the consolidation of Orient and Sanghi related costs were largely behind. In fact, there was around INR 42 per ton for maintenance-related cost in September, which should have subsided in this quarter. Can you help us understand what exactly is driving OpEx higher Q on Q? Any quantification over here would be helpful. My another question is, by when can we expect clarity on the expansion? You gave us the 15 million ton debottlenecking breakdown, but what about the rest on your roadmap to 155 million ton? Thank you.
So, what's his name?
Rahul.
Rahul. Hi. I think if you go back to slide number 38. While it captures broadly the overall phasing of the expansion plan. FY 2026 exit is 115. Actually it is 117, but then I am also going to do modeling of two unviable and economically unviable units basically. Therefore, I'm saying 115 on a net basis. Then on top of it, the overall phasing of FY 2027 and 2028, that will cover balance almost. It will have a combination of both the new dues and the debottlenecking also. Ballpark around 130 to 132 will come by exit of March 2027, and the balance will then come to me at exit of March 2028.
Thank you for that. What I was looking for was breakdown asset-wise. When can we expect details around that?
Breakdown of the capacity or breakdown-
Yeah.
What breakdown?
Capacity.
Capacity?
Yes.
Okay. As things first let's achieve the end of March so that we are happy at, say, 117 million tons and -2 of the mod balling, so 115, for example. Let's achieve that. Then as things progress, we will keep giving you further details because the blueprint is ready. But as things progress, we also want to go progressively with the quarters.
Got it. Thank you. And my earlier question on OpEx. Thank you.
Thank you.
Sorry, what? Earlier question was on cost of what? Of Penna and Sanghi?
Debottlenecking.
Debottlenecking. I think in the last previous analyst call also, I told the debottlenecking comes below INR 50, so I was at, say, INR 48 per ton.
No, that is not what I was looking for. The last quarter you had mentioned that Sanghi and Orient were largely fully transitioned and
Okay. The O&M cost, I think.
The O&M cost.
No, I think the O&M cost, for example, Rahul, of course, like that point of time, Sanghi and Penna are through. But now, for you to have a substantially more capacity utilization, there were some items which are left. And as I said that for Penna, there were a couple of these plants, mostly like Tandur was down. And in case of ACC, couple of old assets were down on certain equipment. So that is where, for example, some of the scheduled maintenance which was supposed to happen in, say, January, February, got prepone in December itself. And which is precisely my point when Ritesh asked that how you want to schedule it in terms of the overall maintenance cost.
And I told that from coming financial year, we will have a proper amortization of the O&M cost over the quarters in terms of spread over the month as part of the, say, budget, so that there is no per se distortion of the cost on the actual basis. Unless there is any other breakdown, otherwise it will be scheduled over the four quarters.
Let me ask this question differently. How much of your OpEx was one-off during the quarter?
No, like a good level of, for example, almost like in terms of my branding and my repairs, for example, almost INR 125 is sort of like one-off. In terms of my higher freight because sometimes you then go with a larger lead and it is almost like INR 25 to INR 35 higher per ton. In terms of some of the legal costs, one time in terms of some of the legal cases, which we have won by the way, but this adds to the cost. So ballpark around, say, INR 150 is, say, one time. Therefore, when I look at now my December exit, my December exit is clearly below INR 4,000 while compared to which was almost like INR 4,500 a ton for the quarter.
With every passing month, with every better utilization of green power, with every better utilization of the WHRS capacities and the alternate fuels, these costs are going to come down. Therefore, in terms of giving you an estimate, I can only give you an estimate ballpark, but the actuals will be positively surprising to all of us.
Got it. Thank you so much and wish you all the best.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, in order to ensure that the management is able to address questions from all participants in the conference, please limit your question to one per participant. The next question is from the line of Siddharth Mehrotra from Kotak Securities. Please go ahead.
Thank you for the opportunity, sir. Sir, just to sort of elaborate on the previous participant's questions, could you perhaps give us some breakdown in terms of direction for each of the cost line items? Say, for example, in terms of power and fuel costs, how much do you expect them to trend downwards, upwards, same for other costs, so on and so forth?
Yeah, Siddharth, good point. I can give ballpark. I think in the initial commentary also I mentioned. Let us say, for example, my overall, say, power consumption per ton of cement, which I find there's a scope for me to reduce by almost 10 to 12 units per ton. And in terms of rupees per unit, almost INR 1.5 to INR 2, which is like although end objective, but INR 1 immediately. So ballpark INR 100 to INR 125 a ton, I see improvement possible quickly on the power. While my end target is by FY 2028, INR 4.5 per unit as compared to INR 6.1 in terms of my power cost and my consumption almost which is from here, I can improve by almost minimum 15 units. But as of now, I'm saying the 10 units is quite possible in the coming quarter and this INR 1 reduction.
So let us say around INR 150, INR 100 to INR 125 reduction on the power cost. On the fuel is almost INR 150 reduction is what, for example, we would like to peg ourselves and back on the strength of the new asset which will come to us, which will reduce my overall, say the heat consumption. And with every passing quarter, my fuel cost is coming down and that you will see further trend. Look at the raw material, like now fly ash and all the group synergies, we will be benefiting on the fly ash. We are putting up the BCFC rakes all across the major centers of consumption which will bring me benefits of logistics. On logistics part, for example, when I look at it, almost INR 150 reduction is what we are targeting to. And on the raw material, almost INR 100.
Plus minus around, say INR 300 to INR 350 is what, for example, will come and that should come to bring it down my cost to almost INR 3,800 again, as I am saying, exit of 27 of March and 3650. This is like, for example, as I said, positively will surprise with every passing quarter. The blueprint is very clearly laid down.
Okay. These are basically longer term goals, not exactly visible say, over one or two quarters, right?
No, they will come down because as I said, the moment my line is ready for commissioning, Bhatapara, for example, line three is commissioned and it is ramping up. Maratha will come in Q1. This quarter, 8 million tons of cement will come. They will all be geared up to consume green power, which is right now, for example, which we are selling in the market. It's not mid to long term. It will be possible to consume as they start to ramp up on an immediate basis also, number one. The moment they commission and get during commercial production this 8 million and all, the efficiency immediately improves because these are all efficient new kilns as compared to my almost the exiting old assets. This combination will give you quick returns on a quarterly basis. Every passing quarter will give you the improvements.
Needless to say that as I mentioned, the revenue pattern also will keep improving because all these new assets and all will be focused on premium and trade sales-focused, blended cement-focused. Many of my BCFC rakes are getting delivered. Typically almost three to four rigs gets delivered a quarter. The moment they get delivered a quarter, it straight away helps me to deploy for movement of fly ash on railway logistics and therefore the blended cement portion will go up. I think, don't look it as long-term. Look it as every passing quarter kind of action.
Got it. Just one quick question, sir. What would be your guidance for CapEx for, say, the next two couple of years?
CapEx, Siddharth, as I have also highlighted in the investor deck around ballpark, for the growth part, say ballpark INR 8,000 odd crores and for the efficiencies and all, another, say INR 2,000 odd crores. I would peg it, but this is like a modular kind of, say, CapEx because that is the various opportunities. My foremost focus remains and continues on capacity utilization of my existing assets. That straight away helps me to bring substantial KPIs improvement. Therefore, this CapEx, when I indicate to you, it also will be a factor of how the existing assets also stand out in terms of utilization of the capacity and all. But ballpark, yeah, INR 10,000 odd crores you can consider.
Over two years, three years?
No, this is like I'm saying yearly CapEx.
Annual CapEx. Okay.
Annual CapEx.
Got it. Thank you.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Amit Murarka from Axis Capital. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Hi, good evening, and thanks for the opportunity. Just on your expansions, while you have put out the numbers, but specifically on the clinker unit, which is Maratha and the Rajasthan clinker unit and Penna. By when is that expected to commission now?
Oh, good. Amit, thank you. Penna is expected in this quarter itself.
Okay.
We had targeted somewhere like third week of February but hopefully mid of February. Yeah. This quarter itself, the commissioning will happen. So far as Maratha is concerned, I mentioned earlier it is expected somewhere like in Q1 to Q2. I would just keep a buffer of one quarter, so let us say Q2. So Bhatapara and Penna, Marwar. Bhatapara is commissioned, Penna, Marwar in February, then Maratha somewhere like in Q2 kind of scenario.
Sure. Understood. Beyond these then, which are the other clinker units that you plan to take up in order to reach that 155 million ton of grinding?
Again, good question, Amit. Thank you. See, primarily for me, the engines of growth in terms of clinkering, Bhatapara remains my engine of growth so far as east is concerned. Sanghi is my engine of growth so far as west is concerned. In terms of south, we have Wadi and Chittapur basically. But primarily Sanghi is where we will grow. Mundra, we are already expanding in terms of the calcium sludge-based cement, basically. You are aware of that, and Bhatapara, which I mentioned. Another important thing is for North- Marwar. Marwar remains my major, for example, mother unit in terms of the expansion. The clinkering lines will be more primarily as a brownfield expansion, and therefore the benefit of brownfield CapEx and therefore the economies of scale and all will come.
That is how, for example, our whole blueprint will emerge and all the GUs are therefore, and BCTs and all. A good thing is railways have also come out with the bulk movement discount policies. Our tie-up with CONCOR also. In fact, my CapEx actually will be a tad lower because now instead of GU, you can also very well plan BCT and the advantage of flyers which the group has. The model is getting now reemerging because of these various dynamics which are positive for the industry. But as I said, Bhatapara, then Marwar, then Sanghi are our mother units for these three locations. In South, I have Chittapur and Wadi, which are primarily our group engines in South.
Cool. Thanks a lot. That is very helpful. Also on grinding, when will you be coming out with more details on that 24 million ton, which you have mentioned for 2027 and 2028?
I will go back to what I think Rahul had asked this question, or Siddharth would have asked this question, Amit. I think give me time that with every passing quarter, I am going to keep you posted because as I said, the industry is in a very interesting, very supportive of policies by government. Therefore, instead of saying you that grinding units, I will rather put a blend of BCTs and grindings and container movement, so and so forth. Therefore, the models are reemerging and therefore, I will keep updating you all in terms of the footprints with every passing quarter.
Thank you. Just the last question, if I may. You were earlier also contemplating giving out the operations on a contracting basis. Has there been any progress on that attempt that you are making?
I must appreciate, Amit, you have been keeping so close track. Of course, yes. Whatever we are discussing with you on every investor call, we are moving our journey on that. In terms of the outsourcing also, I must compliment my team and the efforts which have been coming out that we are in a good momentum on that, and you will hear positive things on that part as well.
Okay. That's all from me. Thank you very much, and best wishes.
Thank you.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Raashi from Citi. Please go ahead.
Thank you. My first question is on cost study to, and it is actually a question on cost. Just to understand this, you mentioned that in the second quarter, the cost was INR 4,050, and that has gone to about INR 4,500. As of the close of the quarter, you are at INR 4,000. Are these numbers correct?
That is true, Raashi.
Okay. You also mentioned that the one off expenses in the quarter were about INR 150 or so. From INR 4,500, if I remove INR 150, I come to INR 4,350. That INR 350 is such a fast decline, how did that quick decline come from the quarter to current?
No. So Raashi, I gave you some quick headlines when it was asked, what are the items which are one off, and I explained. But I explained in terms of broadly the branding, the O&M, the logistics cost, for example, which came in, and some of these legal costs which additionally came in and also. In terms of this delta INR 250, which was there compared to September quarter, ballpark INR 250 resides in some of these items. But primarily, the first two months have seen it is more on the maintenance and all. December was lean and clean, and therefore, December is almost below INR 4,000. And as I progress in January also, it is actually below INR 4,000. Therefore, my confidence to circle back to you on March, exit at below INR 4,000 is very high.
I can share further to you details more, if you require, but this is ballpark what I have been explaining right from my initial commentary to now. As I said, with every passing month, the benefits of green power, the benefits and all of that, for example, I will not repeat, are actually coming in. Therefore, some of these items get trade-off also. These are ballpark my answers to that.
Okay. On pricing, you mentioned that in the South, non-trade prices were up INR 15-INR 20 a bag, in the North, INR 5-INR 10 a bag. Are there any increments in trade as well, or it is just only the non-trade segment?
There is an improvement on trade also, but the level of speed of growth is more on non-trade, and as compared to trade because the downfall also was much accelerated for non-trade, and therefore the corrective action happened. But of course, even in the trade segment, it has improved. And good thing is now again for South also, for example, our focus on the blended cement, and I am happy to share that some of the first kind of initiatives in terms of Penna where the blended cements are now moving out from the factories. Just like two days back, that started. I am also happy to share with you that in Bombay, the blended cement in form of premium cement, otherwise Bombay is more of a OPC market. But Bombay also, for example, we have launched our premium cement and it has got a huge response positive.
I think coming back to South has seen trade also improvement and South will see more of our blended share of cement improvement in an accelerated manner.
Would you be able to quantify on average where your realizations today are versus the last quarter?
Raashi, that would be too much of detail, but basically I can ballpark tell you that yes, things are improving, I think all clusters, all zones. And good thing is the brand equity is now pulling a good level of demand from the customers and the Adani added advantage of brand actually is bringing lots of positive euphoria in the supply chain partners. So you will find the benefits coming in every passing quarter in terms of market realizations.
Got it. And just one last question from me. Your balance sheet has received a slight decline in the cash quarter-on-quarter. Could you explain that, please?
No, Raashi, when you are looking at commissioning 8 million tons of cement, obviously, it will have a CapEx outgo. All your clinkering of 8 million ton, which will be coming right now from Penna to Bhatapara, for example, to the commissioning of Maratha. All of this is a planned scheduled CapEx. Therefore, primarily, if you look at obviously you know that from March to June and from June to September, there has been this acquisition of Orient and all. Orient if you keep it aside, which was almost outgo of INR 6,000 odd crores, but if you keep that aside, huge CapEx it is there in terms of the capacities which are getting added and the volumes growth will come in coming quarters.
Understood. CapEx in nine months is how much in total, growth and efficiency?
In terms of CapEx for the nine months it is ballpark around INR 6,000 odd crores. I would put the run rate, therefore I had given initially is that almost INR 10,000 is what we are expecting between growth and efficiency. For the next three months also for example, another INR 3,000 odd crores. This will be ballpark INR 9,000 odd crores for this year and the same ± 10% run rate we will follow passing years also.
Got it. Thank you. Those are my questions.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Jyoti Gupta from Nirmal Equities . Please go ahead.
Good evening, sir. Thank you for the opportunity. My question is on your slide number 10, where you said that the cost reduction would be INR 4,000 per metric ton March 2026 exit. Nine months, we are averaging around INR 4,000, roughly INR 4,300. Can I assume that last year's fourth quarter added the INR 900 odd EBITDA per ton and with the improved conditions in the first two months of this quarter, can I see that improvement reflecting in the EBITDA per ton? Maybe INR 900 plus INR 300 or maybe anywhere close to it could be the EBITDA per ton for full fourth quarter? Can we end the full year with something like INR 1,000 plus EBITDA per ton?
Jyoti, I can give you commentary on cost. So far as EBITDA has two elements, therefore of course, I have hinted that and informed basically that January price momentum is very positive and therefore you will see that upside in terms of price also and of course, on the cost which I mentioned that exit of March it will be below INR 4,000. Definitely you can expect improvement overall. But what would be four digits or three digits, I would not give a forward-looking EBITDA.
Are we sure we'll be around INR 4,000? Will we average INR 4,000 full year?
I am giving exit of March, Jyoti.
Yeah. So that is a full year. So if quarter four also is INR 4,000, then there is significant improvement.
For the month of-
No, sir. This is the number of March 26th , right? So if on March 26 we are at INR 4,000 and we are already nine months average of roughly around INR 4,300. So that INR 300 per ton improvement should reflect in the fourth quarter alone, which means overall EBITDA should be visible, sir.
No, Jyoti. It will be definitely, but just put the numbers properly. When I say March exit, in this case, I am meaning of March month exit. Yeah. Therefore, you do your math on that basis. And in terms of price and EBITDA, the cost, definitely the performance improvement will come on EBITDA.
Okay, sir. Thank you so much.
Yeah.
Thank you. Next question is from the line of Jashandeep Singh Chadha from Nomura. Please go ahead.
Hello. Am I audible?
Yeah. Jashandeep.
Yeah. Hi, sir. Thank you for the opportunity. My first question is regarding the acquired assets. It seems like, for a year or so, these acquired assets have been a drag on the performance of Ambuja Cements. In your presentation also, you mentioned that from the organic assets, you delivered INR 1,045 per ton EBITDA. I just wanted to understand from the management point of view, from the strategy point of view, by FY 2027 end, what are the utilizations that you are targeting from these assets? What is the internal EBITDA per ton target, and what will be the key levers in generating those numbers? I just wanted to get a sense of how you are planning to ramp up the acquired assets.
Jashandeep, now that we have acquired and we have integrated, therefore I would say that it is now under Adani Cement. All these assets, including my existing assets, the target is to hit 80% utilization and the target is to hit our EBITDA, which is almost closer to INR 1,250 to INR 1,300 a ton, and then gradually move towards INR 1,500 per ton. The acquired assets are doing very well. I told you Sanghi, which is now a good turnaround, and we are hitting almost 80% on the clinker for December month. I told you 65% on cement and which will move up further. Some debottlenecking, which I have to do in Sanghi so that I get almost, as of now, say 25% of the clinker, which is like 20,000 tons per day. I have to do a small CapEx part which is already in the process.
By June or July, I should have 2,500 tons utilization. As of now, I am handicapped to 17,500 tons per day kind of utilization. That will happen. When you acquire assets like this and most of the assets which are financially challenged when they were acquired and when the erstwhile company promoters could not do overhauling and all, it takes time. Because these are strategically important assets. You get 1,000 million tons. You have a huge play. You have a mother plant now which will set up more clinkering units over there. Therefore I would give enough opportunity for the asset. By the way, I am planning for a site visit also for all of you in the month of February.
Team will come back to you shortly on this so that seeing is believing and therefore you will get a larger comfort of the turnaround of Sanghi. That was it on the acquired assets. For me now, acquired and existing it gets all as Adani Cement platform, one cement platform. Now I would be confidently discussing with you in terms of the capacity in line with the Adani norms and Adani standards for all of these assets.
Understood, sir, and thank you for this. My next question is more from a strategy point of view, from an industry point of view. Adani Cement is one of the largest players we have. Just wanted to understand your view on consolidation. You have already told us that organic capacity expansion you will be discussing in a later call. Do you think that if the consolidation phase is over or there is more scope and just a structural view if you can give us how are you looking at the industry right now?
Consolidation phase of course till one to one and a half years back has seen a good run-up on that and now taken a pause because the companies which have deeper pockets when they have acquired and therefore they are just taking a pause to basically ramp up the existing assets and that trend will continue and therefore the focus on ramping up the acquired assets and then capacity utilization of the assets remains the focus area. As things turn around, obviously then companies become more bullish and this is like a cycle which will continue. It takes a pause. It again comes back to the circle and there are companies which will be available for consolidation, right from small size to mid-size companies. But the pace will be not that what we have seen one and a half years back. The pace will be a little lesser.
The size and scales will be relatively lesser. But I would say that, yes, there will still be opportunities and I am sure those are opportunities I would always think that we are always open to at the right price and right value. Therefore no one, for example, because I have a very strong balance sheet, INR 70,000 crores of net worth and zero debt as of now. Therefore opportunities will come at the right price. We will be very open to that. But the current deeper focus is right now on the ramp up of the existing facilities and the organic growth which is already we have put a blueprint to work on.
Understood, sir. Thank you so much for this.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Participants, you are requested to limit your questions to one per participant. The next question is from the line of Prateek Kumar from Jefferies. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Good evening, sir. Can I ask a couple of questions? Can you tell how the EBITDA per ton would look in different regions in 3Q or particularly maybe which region underperformed versus your INR 715 per ton blend average due to specific performances?
No, generally, it is like you all know the answer. It is like South will generally be modest compared to the other markets. West, for example, is generally better and in this case, markets like Bombay are always far, far better. East was also subdued although it picked up in the last month of December. Center has been completely subdued. The aggression of competition was very high in Center. North and West clusters are generally mitigated from this kind of immense pressure on competition. But Center and East and South remains vulnerable and South generally is vulnerable and East and Center can surprise on either side. That is how it spans out.
Sure. One of the questions, and this was submitted to us earlier. You had INR 4,500 per ton average for this quarter, and you said INR 4,000. Simplistically, for modeling purpose, next quarter you will have a swing of INR 500 per ton on cost, and likely will flow completely to EBITDA per ton. So you can report INR 1,200 + pricing increase. Is that the expectation for next quarter?
I would be very happy to give you some forward-looking statements on this, Prateek, but I would resist on that because I can give you with comfort that what I can target on cost, but on the EBITDA, I think this question came with Raashi or Raashi also. Raashi or with Jyoti, I think. So I would resist on any commentary on the EBITDA. But you can do your-
You have-
I think you are smart enough.
Thank you. These are the questions. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Ashish Jain from Macquarie Capital India. Please go ahead.
Sir, my first question is on power consumption. The point you made earlier that power consumption can come down by 10 units. One of the drivers you listed was commissioning of the new clinker plants. Our understanding under the old management was that one of the reasons power consumption here was with the limestone and the aging of the plant. Are you saying that the 11 million ton will really help you to bring down portfolio-level consumption by 10 units, or are we also working on efficiencies of the existing clinker plants as well?
Both, Ashish. I mentioned to you in terms of the stability, reliability, and therefore the utilization factor of the existing plant, and that will be a key for every kind of KPIs. On top of it, the blend of the new assets. It will be benefit of both coming together on an overall basis, the reduction of 10 units.
This is high visibility, you think, based upon whatever technical assessment you may have done?
Yeah. I think I'm already seeing that visibility, as I said, with capacity utilization improving for the acquired assets, with the efficiency CapExes done for the existing assets. You are right, some of the assets which are old from ACC and on, and therefore when you debottleneck, you will actually be able to get a higher volume of cement from the same asset, and straightaway your efficiency improves. So there is a high degree of visibility on that. That is how I think we have done our maths on that and then come up with this particular reduction of minimum 10 units.
Right. Sir, secondly, again, I understand that Jaypee assets with AEL and you do not want to comment on it. But in case, let us say, those assets come to us, then will it be incremental above 155, or you will have flexibility in the existing potential pipeline and you will still stick to 155 by FY 2028?
No, I think my larger point is 155 has element of both organic and inorganic. That continues. Although I am not commenting anything on AEL transaction.
Right.
Whether it is Jaypee or whether it is XYZ, 155 will subsume as a overall both organic and inorganic.
Got it. Okay, sir. Thank you so much. That was very helpful.
Thank you.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Pinakin from HSBC. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Thank you very much, sir. I have two questions. My first question is again going back to the costs, which were very disappointing this quarter. Over the last two years, the costs have been volatile. Going forward, while you maintain the guidance of cost coming down, there will also be a lot many new capacities which will ramp up, which will have lower utilizations to start with. Shouldn't that cost also be a drag? I am just trying to understand the cost picture. Will the overall cost for the company come down, or will the new plants' cost be higher in the ramp-up phase and the existing plants' cost will come down?
No, good. I think good, Pinakin. First, your question is in terms of volatility. I wanted to address that part when I said that the accounting of this O&M cost, which should actually ideally get amortized logically over say 12 months so that volatility comes down. Point number one. Point number two, the new capacity ramp up. In terms of GU, the ramp up happens very fast. Unlike in clinkering, the ramp up happens in a phased manner. The ramp up doesn't really increase the cost because they already are sitting at efficiencies. So ramp up will not increase, but it incrementally will improve the costs. Any cost which is required at the time of commissioning, anyways that gets capitalized. So the three answers, for example, will help you to. So volatility answer is right.
In cement, if you do it on an actual basis, it becomes volatile, and therefore, I will take those corrective steps in terms of equalizing in terms of the quarter so that it is not on an actual basis, but it is properly amortized. Number two, in terms of capacity, I mentioned to you, and therefore the new capacities don't tend to increase the costs.
Sure. My second question is on the capacity number 155 million tons. So the pipeline of 24 million tons, which includes both organic and inorganic. While there is an inorganic element which you cannot detail right now, but given that you have given a target for capacity as of two years down the line, when can we expect the organic capacity roadmap to be detailed out? Because we're just trying to wonder then if the capacities are not detailed, then how confident we are of that March 2028 number.
No, I told, I think in terms of the end target for FY 2027, we are at around 135 million tons, and then it moves to 155, right? So I think end target for the year is there. Now, in terms of the question was specific GUs and all. That I said that we will come back with every quarter so that whether it is GU, whether it is bulk cement terminal, whether it is container terminal. I think lots of options have now come out. We have these synergies and advantage of the power plants and, of course, on our arms and all, but we have the advantages wherever, for example, we can very easily now put up some of the BCTs and all. So this whole model requires a detailed review to bring more efficiency on the CapEx and still get the benefit of the capacity.
I think that is what we are going to come back and circle back to you. But the larger numbers very much remain intact. Second, as I said that focus will be to spread the existing assets much better, smarter and efficient, and therefore at any stage when we are able to meet the same demand and market share with spreading of the existing assets, I think, 5-10% here and there cannot be basically ruled out because that is where, for example, the whole opportunity will be to bring more efficiency in the existing assets. So 155, 135, 115, these are like three ladders to the next, say three fiscal years and ± 5%-10% when you are able to achieve your capacity utilization. That's part of the whole strategy.
Got it. Thank you very much, sir.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Ashish Jain from Macquarie Capital India. Please go ahead.
Hi, sir. Thanks for the follow-up opportunity.
We are at 6:20. I would say maybe last one or two questions. Ashish Jain.
Sure, sir.
Sir, thanks for the follow-up opportunity. Sir, I just had one bookkeeping question. Sir, earlier in the call, did we comment that 315 crore of coal sales is booked differently this time, which is both in revenues and costs, which was earlier being netted off in the power costs. Is that the reason why our realizations are flat sequentially and the cost is also significantly higher? Is that one of the reasons or-
No.
Can you please clarify?
Rohit will answer you on this.
That's not the reason. It's just a gross up and gross down from accounting perspective. All the numbers, what we report, they don't consider that. We report it from the management, this thing. That is just a gross up, gross down. Nothing to do with any of the numbers what we report.
But affirmation that price is. So affirmation that NSP is not influenced on that.
No.
Affirmation number two, that EBITDA is not influenced on that. These are two points. Now, Rohit, if you want to still clarify.
Sure.
Yeah.
Sorry, sir, if I can. Is that accounting change effective this quarter on coal booking? If you can just clarify that.
Yes, it is there in last quarter also, the value was less. It might be in this quarter, it's a value bit larger. That's the only thing. It has been there in the past also.
Sir, can you give the value for the previous quarter, please, if possible?
I have for the current quarter. For the past quarter, I'll pull it up and I'll ask Deepak to share it with you.
Sure, sir. Thanks.
315.
315.
315. So for the current quarter, it is 315 and previous quarter's value, while the next question comes, if you are able to dig out, then we will tell you. Otherwise, Deepak can separately inform you.
Yeah. I will again clarify, Ashish, this is only at ACC level. Otherwise, at console level, everything is eliminated because all these things are within the one cement platform, what Mr. Bahety was trying to explain. At console level, zero, zero.
Again, I think this is coming as a question again. My point is, Rohit, and we can just confirm. Again, two, three things. EBITDA is not influenced.
No.
Price is not influenced.
No.
Right. It's purely accounting and it nullifies.
Absolutely.
Absolutely nullified at the console level. Friends, this is very clear. Then any specific further details, circle back with Deepak.
Great, sir. Thank you so much. Thanks again.
Thank you.
Thank you. The next question is from the line of Rajesh Ravi from HDFC Securities. Please go ahead.
Hi, sir. Good evening, and congrats on very detailed presentation and the discussion. Sir, my few questions. You have talked about the three clinker units which will get commissioned over next three to four months. For FY 2027, are there specific targets beyond these three clinker which would get commissioned? Also, could you share demand outlook for Q4 overall, how is the industry growing? My third question, what we have seen, and I remember a few quarters back you had alluded to this, that there is a lot of value unlocking you are doing in ACC Ambuja which is below the EBITDA, the tax refunds which you are securing or getting it cleared for prior periods. So some discussions around that, please.
Your first question is in terms of the new kilns beyond the. There are four of them right now in the discussion. One is [inaudible] , one which you said, and the fourth one which I mentioned was the Mundra, right? So these together, for example, right now 16 million tons, because each one of them is, say 4 million. So 4 into 4, 16 million into ballpark 1.5. So you have 24 million tons GU. Right now I am sitting at, say 109. So 109 + 24, we are at, say 133, 135, which I mentioned.
Yes, sir.
This is how, for example, this-
Plus.
No, the eight is included in that, the GU. Basically, these four kilns are very much there in terms of process. Then I mentioned that Bhatapara, Sanghi and Mundra are our centers of growth from clinkering perspective. Sooner you will find our additional announcements and narratives coming on the CapEx program for the By the way, Assam also, we have entered into agreement with the government in terms of setting up another one line of 4 million Assam, which is the fifth one, by the way. Which brings to you 20 million tons of income. Assam, Mundra are, let us say Mundra is still a brownfield because we have a great ecosystem there. Assam is greenfield and Maratha is brownfield. Penna anyway is in a full advantage, which will be up and running in February.
Great. On the demand outlook and where you are looking to tax refunds for prior period.
Tax refunds of the prior period, I think we have done a major effort on that and unlocked the working capital. I think we have also, if I give you a ballpark, we have resolved a substantial of the legal cases also. We are strengthening our balance sheet from that perspective. I hope you are not asking me about the past year refunds and all. I am more forward-looking, which I think your question is more about the forward looking.
No. The tax refunds which you have secured for both ACC and Ambuja in the past few quarters are quite sizable relating to prior periods. Are there more which is available to be realized on that?
In the future, not to that this magnitude, I think there will be. But this magnitude may not come, I think. But few points on the GST and few points on some of the specific taxes and all from a couple of states and then some incentive which has to come in form of long pending. I think those are the ones which will be adding up to the overall cash flows. But on the income tax, I think we have sizably resolved majority of the cases.
Okay. On the demand side, Q4, what is the industry outlook you are looking at Q4? How is January and what is the outlook for next two months in your assessment?
I remain bullish on demand for the cement industry and industry as a whole. I would say that Q4 should also see around 8% kind of percentage and therefore the leading players will find double-digit growth again in the quarter of March.
Great. Just last question on the capacity which you mentioned. Assam, when do you target this line to be operational?
Which line?
Assam capacity which you are planning. You mentioned that it will be setting up a greenfield unit.
Yeah. I would say that since Assam is Assam and therefore it could take around, I would say, ballpark, say 24 odd months. 18-24 months is what, for example, we should be looking at.
Okay. So somewhere closer to FY 2028 exit, we would be looking at this.
Yeah. I think the work on the ground has already started. Land has been secured and the incentive program and all, for example, is moving very well. So Assam will see a good level of work at the site.
Sir, you talked about 2 million ton odd capacities getting mothballed. Could you elaborate if it is already done and at which locations?
These are very old assets. One of them is in, say, Sindri and second is basically at Jamul. On slide number 38 of the IR deck. See again, I am sure you will appreciate our IR decks are very transparent and
Right
very full of information. On 38 page number you will see the mothballing of these two capacities, Jamul and Sindri, very old mills.
These are already done, right? In the current capacities.
They have already been done non-operational practically and therefore I am removing them from my operative capacity.
Okay. Great, sir. That is all from my end.
I can still choose it on an opportunistic basis, but as of now they are economically unviable, therefore I have kept them non-operative.
Understood. Great, sir. That is all from my end. Thank you.
Thank you. We will take the last question from Kunal Shah from DAM Capital. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Hi, sir. Firstly, on Sanghi. Now it continues to operate around 50% odds, sub 50 on an average level in terms of grinding. This is despite this asset being acquired for more than two years and this ramp-up remains much lower versus our initial guidance. The geography is Gujarat, where we already have a very strong presence. So what is going wrong there structurally, or what was the negative surprise here that we realized post the acquisition, if any?
Good observation again. Nothing per se wrong. I think we have to understand the topography of Sanghi. It is like a classic island plant. You have seen some of the harsh seasons. So last year, for example, you have seen flooding and all and huge storms. Some of the plants were affected, and Sanghi was also, some equipments were damaged. Second is, in terms of some improvements, for example, the transmission line was a little low voltage transmission line, and which is, if you would just track it, therefore already now the transmission line from government is getting revamped and strengthened to take a higher load factor, which will straight away help me to bring at least 20-25 MW of green power in Sanghi. Therefore, it will benefit me in a sustained power and at a reduced cost.
Sometimes otherwise, when this kind of say storms and winds and bad seasons, so power tripping happens very often. So nothing wrong with the asset per se. Except some of the debottlenecking and investment which we had to do, including some dredging activity which had to be done, which has been done now. So like now, I think with 80% in December exit. When I say December exit, it is December month. 80% of the clinker capacity being used and almost 65 for cement. I think from here things are now only improving. Earlier you would see that the colony was also the plant life was very badly managed. But it takes time for us to also revamp the whole quality of life over there, the infrastructure, the facilities, and therefore I am very eager to take you all now to Sanghi.
Therefore the right contractors, the right talent will also now move in. Earlier, it becomes a very [inaudible] area. So those were the issues, but we know that when you acquire a set of this scale and which gives you a sizable potential and which has 1,000 million tons opportunity so that you can set up multiple lines, I think it is a game of doing it, setting it right and gradually so that it performs overall in due course.
Understood. This is helpful. One last one. If you look at the current status, we have underutilized acquired assets, a capacity expansion target of maybe 15%-20% over the next two years. This in the backdrop of industry demand at an 8% odd, right? How are we thinking on volume growth targets over the next two to three years? Is there any guidance that you can give on volume growth or capacity utilization or market share? That would be helpful.
See, volume will be growing double digit. I mean, while my base will keep increasing, but double digit is what we are expecting. It is very important for me to highlight that we are balancing it between volume and value, and therefore you will see more accelerated improvement on my realization on my blended cement, on my premium cement. Therefore, even at the risk of losing some low EBITDA volume, which we will do, but we will play a balance game of volume and value.
Understood. One last bookkeeping. Can you just give Penna's utilization levels both on clinker and grinding, if possible?
Penna ballpark for the month of December is ballpark 52%-55%. As I mentioned, this asset of Tandur of Penna was down, but now it is going to be up and running in the next week or 10 days. Therefore, you will see a good level of utilization, sharp improvement in Penna assets. Some of the assets we have done a substantial overhauling. That also, for example, results into whenever I do an overhauling, it sharply improves my O&M cost and which gets booked when the actual cost is incurred. Penna is a classic case on that. Lots of this work has gone to bring these assets back to their desired asset reliability factor. I mentioned to you that Penna asset now will start sending blended cement also, and therefore it will help me to improve substantially the capacity utilization.
The Krishnapatnam grinding unit of Penna, for example, which was there, which now say 2 million becoming 4 million. Once I start substantially using this 4 million, because right now the ramp-up of the additional 2 million has not happened, but the moment that happens, this 55% will see a sharp jump in terms of capacity utilization.
Understood. Understood, sir. This is very helpful. Thanks and all the best. Thank you for extending the call as well. Thank you.
Thank you very much. We are almost at one hour 45 minutes, so I am sure now Ikra will take a judicious call.
Yes, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, due to time constraint, that was the last question. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Deepak Balwani, Head Investor Relations at Ambuja Cements Limited, for closing comments.
Thank you. I trust most questions have been addressed. You have my contact number. Please feel to call me. Thank you.
Thank you.
On behalf of Antique Stock Broking, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines.