Ladies and gentlemen, good day and welcome to VRL Logistics Limited Q1 FY24 earnings conference call hosted by Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited. As a reminder, all participant lines will be in the listen-only mode, and there will be no 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 and zero on your touchscreen phone. Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Alok Deora from Motilal Oswal. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Thank you, Neerav. Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Q1 FY24 earnings conference call of VRL Logistics. We have with us today Mr. Sunil Nalavadi, CFO of the company. I would now hand over to Mr. Nalavadi to give opening remarks and discuss on the performance of the company, and then we can pick up the Q&A session. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Thank you, Mr. Alok Deora. Good morning to all participants, and Sunil Nalavadi, CFO of VRL Logistics. I welcome all of you once again for the earnings conference call for the Q1 of FY24. At the beginning, I would like to inform you that this is a year started with standalone goods transport business, along with the other small business that is transport of passenger by air. This passenger by air business consists of one aircraft. As informed, the board has approved to sell this business being an only unrelated business in the company, and accordingly, this business has been sold with effect from 31st July 2023. During the quarter, the total revenue is increased by around 11% from INR 617 crore to INR 683 crore on a year-on-year basis.
The increase in revenue is mainly on account of increase in tonnage to 1,020,000 tons from 904,000 tons with a growth rate at 11%. The increase in tonnage is mainly on account of increase in branch network of the company. We added almost around 205 branches from April 2022 to 30th June 2023. And these branches have contributed approximately around 6% in booking tonnage and approximately 8% for delivery tonnage in Q1 of FY24. Our strategy of expansion of branch network is going to be continued and planning to add around 25-30 branches every quarter, especially in untapped market. Apart from the expansion in branch network, the contribution from the existing customers is also supporting our growth. Further, we are acknowledging that many of the customers are shifting from unorganized operators to organized operators on account of increasing compliances under GST law.
On the other side, due to delay and variance in the monsoon periodicity during the year, there were fluctuations in the demand from certain sectors, especially the agro-related products and consumer durables, and these products have not contributed as per our expectations. Further, during the current quarter, we have implemented the barcode and QR Code system for all our consignments for smooth and efficient movement of the consignments. We faced some initial interruptions, especially in our hubs and. Due to which there were some cases of delay in loading and unloading activities. On account of these interruptions, it impacted the growth in tonnage in the quarter to some extent, especially for the spot bookings. Within the quarter, this project has been successfully completed. Now, the entire operation is running smoothly across our branches and transshipment hubs. During the quarter, the realization per ton is almost maintained.
We have not increased any freight rate. Moreover, the other income increase as compared to the last year on account of one is around INR 1-INR 1.5 crore on the profit on sale of certain old vehicles, and we received certain incentives from OEMs also for the warranty period performances. When it comes to EBITDA, it has increased from INR 94 crore to INR 110 crore, and percentage to revenue has increased from 15.26% to 16.22%. The year-on-year EBITDA benefited from decreasing fuel cost as a percentage to the revenue by almost around 1% plus. The average procuring cost per liter of diesel has decreased from INR 93 in Q1 FY23 to INR 87.54 in Q1 FY24. The procurement for refineries as a percentage to total quantity increased to 32% in the current quarter, whereas in the last year, same quarter, it was almost nil.
Apart from that, there are reductions in certain expenses, especially the lorry hire charges as a percentage to the revenue is reduced. The tire cost is reduced. The cost of spare parts consumed is reduced due to increase in the kilometers traveled by the old vehicles. The toll charges as a percentage to, on the other side, certain expenditures are increased as a percentage to the revenue and impacted on the EBITDA margin. One is the toll charges increment. It has increased almost around from 6.9%-7.76% on account of increase in toll charges as well as increase in the toll rates. The loading and unloading charges also increased by around 0.35% from 6.24%-6.59% due to increase in hamali rates and loading unloading charges rates at various places.
The rent expenses also increased from 1.8% to 1.97% as a result of addition of new branches and enhancement of spaces in certain key branches and transshipment hubs. The employee cost increased by 0.33% from 15.95% to 16.28% on account of increase in employee strength by around 1,100 people, and this is on account of increase in the branches and also internal promotions on selective basis. The rest of the expenses were in line with the increase in the revenue and not impacted on the EBITDA margins. The EBITDA of Goods Transport segment is reduced from 9.86% to 9.06% on account of increase in depreciation. The depreciation and amortization cost has increased from INR 33 crores to INR 49 crores on a year-on-year basis.
The increase in depreciation is mainly on account of increase in the CapEx and also increase in ROU as per Ind AS 116 on account of rental expenses of a long-term lease agreement entered for the enhancement in major branches and transshipment hubs faced during the quarter. The finance cost also increased from INR 12 crore to INR 16 crore, moving to increase in debt to some extent and also increase in lease liability as per Ind AS 116 accounting. The profit before tax is reduced from INR 49 crore to INR 46 crore, and as a percentage to the revenue is reduced by around 1.22%. This is mainly on account of increase in depreciation and finance cost. The profit for the quarter has been reduced to around INR 34 crore, which is reduced from INR 36 crore on a year-on-year basis.
Percentage-to-the-revenue has also dropped by around 1%, and again, it is mainly on account of increase in depreciation and finance cost. Similarly, on a quarterly basis, the Goods Transport segment is the revenue has decreased by around 2%-3%, and this is mainly on account of decrease in the tonnage. During the quarter, the realization per ton is almost maintained. The EBITDA has decreased from INR 118 crore to INR 111 crore. Decrease in EBITDA is mainly on account of to some extent, the lorry hire charges has been increased on account of disturbance in the operation on account of the barcode or QR Code system introduction. The tire cost also increased a little bit on account of replacement of tires on a periodical basis, even for the new vehicles. The toll charges also increased on account of increase in the toll charges and toll booths.
The loading and unloading charges, again, it has increased on account of increase in the loading unloading rates. The employee cost also increased a little bit in the current quarter. Again, this is only on account of the internal promotions on selective basis to the key employees. The rest of the expenses were in line with the increase in the revenue. Moreover, the fuel cost as a percentage. On the other side, certain expenses have been reduced as a percentage to the revenue and supported to increase in the EBITDA margins. One is the fuel cost, which is almost reduced by, again, 1%. And this is mainly on account of increase in the procurement from the refineries. This is almost increased by 7% on a quarter-on-quarter basis.
Also, the fuel prices have been the procurement cost has been reduced from INR 89 to around INR 87.5 in the current quarter. Again, the EBITDA margins of this segment are affected mainly on account of depreciation, and the depreciation increases only on account of increase in CapEx and increase in ROU. Moreover, finance costs also increase because of increase in debt to some extent and also increase in the lease liability as per Ind AS 116 accounting. The profit before tax is, again, reduced by almost around 1.89%. This is only on account of to some extent, the EBITDA margins are impacted and also on account of increase in depreciation and finance cost. The profit for the year for the quarter has been declined as compared to quarter-on-quarter basis, again, because of decrease in EBITDA as well as increase in depreciation and finance cost.
During the quarter, we have invested around INR 87 crore in CapEx and mainly in commercial vehicles, and most of this CapEx has been increased for the replacement of the existing capacity. The net debt of the company reached around INR 193 crore as of 30th June. Considering our expansion plans in terms of expansion of branch network, shift of customers from unorganized players to organized players, and increase in the fleet size, we are confident in our growth plans going forward. We wish to state that we are adding another two owned fuel pumps in Delhi and Ambala. This will further increase the fuel purchase from the refineries, and which will further reduce the fuel procurement cost. We are also expecting that the fuel prices are not going to increase in the coming days on account of lower crude oil prices as of now.
So since the fuel cost is a major cost in operations, if it is in the controlling manner, then definitely we can see there is some improvement in EBITDA margins going forward. Apart from that, the barcode or QR Code system was introduced for each and every parcel. Now, we are having a code so that it will increase a lot of efficiency in the system and the smooth flow of all the consignment across our system. This will increase a lot of operational efficiency, especially the short or excess of materials from various places. And to that extent, whatever manpower we are deploying, that cost can be minimized. And please note that the increase in depreciation and finance costs in the current quarter is fixed and periodical in nature.
We are hoping that once our tonnage growth reaches at our expected level, then these expenses as a percentage to the revenue will come down, and further, it will give a boost to increase in EBITDA and PBT margins. With this, I wish to conclude my initial remarks. Now, I request to the participants to open our questions and answer session.
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 touch-tone telephone. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press star and two. Participants are requested to use handset while asking a question. Ladies and gentlemen, we will wait for a moment while the question queue assembles. Participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. First question is from the line of Amit Dixit from ICICI Securities. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Hi. Good morning, everyone. And thanks for giving me the opportunity. I have a couple of questions. The first one is essentially on tonnage side. So in this quarter, if you see, there was an impact, as you mentioned in your prepared remarks, on delay in loading unloading and as well as agro remaining a little bit soft. So how much can you quantify the impact? If these things were not there, then how much tonnage would have gone up by?
Yeah. Actually, agriculture and the consumer durables, essentially, around 1%-1.5% of tonnage has been declined on account of that. And moreover, about this QR Code system, at least around 2%-3% tonnage has been impacted. Most of the spot bookings are impacted in many of the bigger cities.
Basically, the booking branches and transshipment hubs, because of certain initial hiccups in the system, they were unable to move the consignment. And to that extent, whenever spot booking customers come, actually, because of these delays, the booking has been shifted to other operators temporarily. So it could have been around 5%. Is it reasonable to assume that? Yeah. Overall, around 4%. Okay, sir. Second question is essentially on the vehicles. If you look at the vehicles, they have been reduced mainly because we have procured vehicles and we have scrapped some. Now, did it have any impact on volume and profitability and when we can see, I mean, during the year, vehicles increasing again for us? This has not impacted on any performance and resilience.
Basically, see, some of the older what we do every time, we conduct a lot of preventive maintenance in the quarter one before this rainy season starts. Every year, it is. Now, during the year, what we did, wherever some major maintenance for the older vehicles, instead of doing preventive maintenance for those vehicles, we scrapped those vehicles. So that's the reason whatever vehicle additions have been done, those are all replaced with the older capacity.
Okay. So, around, during later, the second half of the year, possibly, we will see.
Yeah. Subsequently, this will be the additional capacity it is going to be in the system. The scrappage portion will be reduced to the extent what we did now.
Okay, sir. That's helpful. Thank you and all the best.
Thanks.
Thank you. Next question is from the line of Mukesh Saraf from Avendus Spark. Please go ahead. Yes, sir.
Good morning, around. Thank you for the opportunity. My first question is regarding the pricing environment. We took a 5% hike.
But your voice is not coming clearly.
Is it better now?
Right.
Just a second. Is it better now?
Yes. Thank you.
Yeah. So question is first regarding the pricing environment. We took a 5% price hike in December, but I guess in the January-February-March period, we didn't see too much of an impact of that because we had to take some discounts, etc. So now, how is that playing out now? This quarter, how has it been the pricing environment? Any of those discounts still continuing? And when can we see the effect of the 5% price hike we took?
The discounting, whatever, the same prices are continued even in quarters one also. That's the reason if you see the realization per ton, it's almost maintained.
Flat. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
So the same strategy is going to continue even during coming quarters. So the realization overall basis, it will be maintained.
Okay. Okay. All right. All right. And secondly, sir, since from 1st August, the key invoicing threshold is now further reduced to INR 5 crore. So in this first week of August, have we already started seeing some shift again from unorganized to organized? I mean, what is the impact we have seen so far in August of that threshold coming off?
Yeah. Basically, on certain products, see, again, which were dependent on unorganized players, most of those sectors are interacting and coming forward for booking in our places, our branch offices. And definitely, this will support us. And see, INR 5 crore, between this INR 10 crore-INR 5 crore, there are a huge number of customers in the system. So those are going to be shipped to us gradually.
Right. Right.
So it will be a gradual, especially in this textile market and all dry fruit market and even in leather products. Actually, we are conducting this association meeting at various places. See, all these traders that are having the association in a local place, actually, our management is going and meeting these people, especially the marketing team, so that a lot of inquiries on an E-way bill we'll even see, sometimes our management calls me directly from the meeting places about the inquiries on the customers on these fronts. So definitely, it is going to help us.
Right. Right. Understood. And sir, I think until last quarter or in the last quarter, you had provided some color on the geographic volumes, east, west, north, etc. So if you could give for the first quarter, how that mix has been for us?
Mix is very much similar to what I stated, almost around, say, 30%-35% from the south origination, I'm saying. Again, around 20%-22% from the north and east and remaining from the north and west and remaining from the eastern groups.
Great. Great. All right, sir. Thank you. I'll get back on the queue.
Yeah. Thanks.
Thank you. Participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. Next question is from the line of Hiren Kumar Desai, individual investor. Please go ahead.
Yeah. First question is, during the month of July and maybe part of August, was there any impact of this flooding situation in many parts of north and western India?
Yeah. To some extent, it affected in July, but in August, actually, the momentum is very good. The last one week we are expecting them. Will you be in a position to indicate what kind of impact it may have on overall volume? Around 1 or 2%, not beyond that.
Okay. Thank you. Yeah. That answers my question.
Thank you. Participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. Next question is from the line of Suraj from Sampada Investments. Please go ahead.
Hello, sir. Good morning. How much reduction in turnaround time do you expect from the implementation of QR Code and barcodes?
Yeah. Especially for the loading and unloading, at least, we used to take around 4-5 hours in the transshipment for each vehicle. So now, what is happening, the time is reducing almost around 3-3.5 hours initially, and further, we can reduce it.
So have you implemented this at pan-India basis, or have you just implemented it on pan-India?
Yeah. I did for each and every consignment movement across the company.
Okay. And sir, are you still giving discounts to the new branches that were opened last year? So that was the first set of new branches that were opened when we embarked upon this expansion plan. So are you still giving discounts in those branches?
Yeah. We set a rate at the time of beginning, but still, those rates are continuing. There is no revision in the rates.
So we still haven't got the required amount of volume that we would want?
No. We got the required amount of volumes, but what is happening further, the revision will take place normally whenever certainly, from April, we plan to increase, but considering, again, the volumes, what we are facing, and again, we should hold back that increase in the price rate. Going forward, we are looking for this season now, how it is going to be turned, and depending on that, on a periodical or some selective route basis, we may increase the rate. As of now, the same rates are continuing. Internally, our thought process is there to analyze each and every route, and the product-wise analysis is happening. The branches performed very well. See, as I said, around 6% of the tonnage in the current quarter came from these new branches alone. The tonnage is coming as per better than what we expected.
The flight rates, we have not yet taken a call to increase in those routes.
Is it because of the competition that you are not increasing rates, or we are just not—rather than saying increasing rates—to do away with the discounts?
No. We want customers to stay with us for a longer time. Normally, see, what will happen, at least we have to maintain around a period of 12 months so that that confidence will come in the minds of the customers.
Okay. No problem. Thank you. All the best, sir.
Yeah.
Thank you. Participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. Next question is from the line of Keshav from VD Capital. Please go ahead. Keshav, may I request you to go ahead and ask your question, please? If you no response, we move on to the next participant. Next question is from the line of Krupa Shankar from Avendus Spark. Please go ahead.
Yes, sir. Thank you for the opportunity. A couple of questions from my side. First is on the tonnage growth, you know, guidance. So given that the first quarter has been relatively weaker, and Agri is also seeing a favorable slowdown, then given that Agri also contributes roughly about 10% of our overall portfolio, do you intend to revise your guidance on the tonnage growth this time around, or is it more or less the offset by the incremental new customers addition?
So basically, now, after the new invoicing policy I mentioned, now that has been reduced to INR 5 crore, between 10 from INR 10 crore to INR 5 crore from August 1, that is one. And second thing, whatever tonnage is impacted in the quarter one, these are having a specific reason.
And we are not seeing that those reasons are going to impact further in the quarter two or going forward. So that's the reason because of these two reasons, we are hoping that definitely the tonnage will bounce back in the coming quarter. So definitely, on a year-on-year basis, we are hoping that at least around 15%+ tonnage growth we are expecting.
Got it. Got it. And the second question was on the scrappage. Do you have a number in mind, sir, the number of trucks you would be scrapping this year?
No. See, that we cannot define in advance. However, around 900+ vehicles still we are having more than 15 years.
Okay. So there is no set plan as such that around 400 vehicles?
No. See, it's also not compulsory now. It all depends on the status of that particular vehicle. If any major maintenance, major expenses, then we scrap it. Otherwise, just we'll continue with our vehicles.
Understood. Okay. And last question from my side is on the hub lease agreement wherein which you have post-renewed. Would it be possible to share what is the location at which the lease agreement was renewed, and can we expect any other major leases to get renewed over a period which will drive up the ROU component?
See, the major revision in the hubs in the country, one, Delhi, whatever the new expanded area we looked at, almost around additional existing, we were having around 250,000-300,000 sq ft goods. Now that has another 200,000 sq ft area of warehouse has been added in Delhi. So that is one.
And in Hubli also, the existing premises where we are having our own facilities, we were unable to handle the volumes. Then again, we have taken an additional 100,000 sq ft area has been planned in Hubli. Similarly, like Pune, Ahmedabad, Raipur, Salem, Chennai, we did, Kanpur, Patna, we did, Goa, see, we did, Siliguri, Cuttack, Trivandrum, and Madurai. These are some of the key places.
Okay. So there is no major hub which will perhaps the lease can get renewed due to which there can be a substantial spike. Maybe addition will come in to support the tonnage growth, but nothing which can drastically change.
No. No. See, Delhi is a major impact in the current quarter. It was almost addition of another 200,000 sq ft. That impacted a lot of these ROU and the lease liabilities.
Understood. Thank you and all the best, sir.
Yeah. Thanks.
Thank you. Participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. Next question is from the line of Keshav Bagri from VD Capital. Please go ahead.
Hello. Am I audible?
Yes.
So my first question would be, we know that VRL is a big disruptor for the logistics industry, and we have seen recent floods and all the disruptions that are happening in VRL right now. So have these impacted our volumes? You just mentioned it impacted in the range of 5%-2%. So brand traction, has it impacted that as well?
Sir, your voice is not clear.
Keshav, is it possible to speak through the handset, please?
Yes. Of course. Is it now? Is it okay now?
Yes. Thank you.
Yeah. So my question is on the fact that we know that weather is a disruptor for logistics as an industry, and we have seen these disruptions happening in Gurgaon as well. So you've just mentioned that tonnage might be impacted by 2%-3% at max. So what is the outlook on branch addition? Has it been affected as well?
Yeah. Branch addition, every quarter, we are planning to add around 25-30 branches. That plan will continue.
Okay. And sir, the second question would be, you have mentioned in your previous part that you're targeting a volume growth of around 18%-30% for the year, and this would translate to revenue growth as well because we are not planning for any price hikes. So are we confident of maintaining this guidance, or do we want to increase or reduce the guidance?
No. Previously, I mentioned that the tonnage growth will be upward to the 15%. That is maintained.
Okay. And sir, you've mentioned that consumer durables and other sectors which have actually underperformed your tonnage expectations. So are there any specific sectors which have really performed well, more than what you expected them to?
Yeah. The performance, see, there are certain commodities we performed well, especially just a minute. Some of the automotives, apparels, and other things we performed better. And similarly, in the hardware items, actually, the performance was better.
Okay. And for any capacity utilization numbers and CapEx numbers for this quarter?
Yeah. Every quarter, the CapEx will be in the range of around INR 85 crore-INR 90 crore that is going to continue. And capacity utilization? See, capacity utilization, again, the vehicle addition will be based on the increase in the volume, based on the requirement.
See, always, our capacity addition will be based on the growth in the tonnage. So always, it will be with a 100% utilization.
Okay. Then last question would be, we are adding branches to tap in more into hinterlands and getting new customers. Apart from adding branches, are there any conscious efforts which are undertaken by the company to add more customers and make sure that the existing customer also increases their volume with us?
Yeah. Basically, what we are doing, we are approaching this MSME and small SME customers because of this reduction in the e-invoicing policy from INR 10 crore-INR 5 crore from this 1st of August. We are approaching a lot of these associations, like the Cloth Merchant Association, Raipur Merchant Association. There are some these leather product associations, especially in UP and surrounding area.
Recently, our management did the customer association meeting in Srinagar as well. Basically, we are going to various places conducting this association meeting, and many people are having a lot of confusion about the compliances as of today. We are giving confidence to the customers that once they ship to us, definitely, we will take care of the compliances. All this confidence we are building, and we are putting some competitive rates also on the initial time, especially in the untapped market. These are all efforts we are doing. Wherever we are doing the promoting the people, especially we did in this quarter, we are giving a lot of additional responsibility for them. Most of the promotions happened in the operational and management team, sorry, operational and marketing team.
So intentionally, we did this kind of a promotion to give a lot of responsibility to these people to increase the business, to increase the volumes, to go and approach the customers. That's the reason. These are all in addition to that, we are putting all these efforts.
So last question would be, realizations are expected to remain flat for the year, or we are planning to take some price hike or something on some selective route specifically?
See, selective price increase and decrease, it is a continuous exercise. But overall, the realization will not change. And basically, since the fuel price is under control and even we are taking initiative to reduce it further, anyway, it is an internal policy that purchase of the refinery and other things.
But even on the markets later, the government also not increasing much of a fuel price because of the crude oil prices are under control. Even the election is due now. I don't think so the fuel price is going to be increased in the coming days. So because of that, see, if we increase the rate, then everybody will ask about what is the change in the fuel price. They will not consider increase or decrease in other expenses. Considering this environment or this scenario, we are not going to change or increase the rates.
Perfect. I've answered all my questions. Thank you.
Thanks.
Thank you. I reminded all the participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. Next follow-up question is from the line of Hiren Kumar Desai, individual investor. Please go ahead. Yeah.
My next question is, since we are doing a lot of CapEx with buying new vehicles and all that, will you be in a position to approximately give a number to interest outgo and depreciation numbers on a quarterly basis?
Yeah. Basically, the interest cost will not increase because of the CapEx because most of the CapEx we are going to increase through internal approvals. Even in the current quarter, if we see, we did the CapEx of around INR 85 crores, but that increased hardly around INR 25-30 crores. And apart from the CapEx in the current quarter, we also funded for the buyback of shares in the current quarter because, see, around INR 61 crores has been utilized for the buyback of shares as well. So basically, on account of this, around INR 30 crores debt is increased.
Going forward, since there are no these kind of outflows, and the entire cash generated by the business will be utilized first for the CapEx, and then if any surplus, then it will be utilized for the repayment of existing debt. So considering this scenario, if we incur even CapEx of around INR 85-90 crores every quarter, the debt will not increase. So if debt will not increase, then interest cost will not increase. But depreciation on this, anyway, it is going to come so additional around INR 2-3 crores additional depreciation cost is going to come.
Okay. So this quarter, if I see, it is INR 49 crores. Will it remain around this number, or will it go up a little bit?
Around INR 1 or 2 crores increase will be there.
One more question is, so we have ordered this new vehicle. By when is the entire stream of supply getting over? When are we likely to hit that maximum capacity, so to say?
No. We are planning to add this capacity in the current year as well. So again, as I said, it completely depends on the increasing tonnage also. Unless these vehicles are required in the system, we will not buy the vehicle and see final capacity. So it depends on how the quantity increases. See, now we are expecting year-on-year basis around 15%+ on a cumulative basis. So that much of additional capacity will be brought in.
Okay. Yeah. Thank you.
Yeah. Thank you.
Thank you. I reminded all the participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. Next question is from the line of Alok Deora from Motilal Oswal. Please go ahead.
Yes, sir. Just one question. What's the branch additions we are looking at in this financial year? Every quarter, around 25-30 branches. And sir, last year, you had mentioned that branch turnaround time is taking nearly 3-4 months. So that's there already now, or it's gone slow now?
No, no. It is maintaining at the same time period. See, wherever we are opening this untapped market, the performance of those branches are very good. And even on an overall basis, if you see in current quarter, around 6% of the growth is only on account of this addition of 200+ branches over a period of last 1 year.
Sure. And this year, you mentioned about 15% volume growth. So a similar number would be there for next year as well?
Yeah. Next year also. At least around 2-3 per year, we are having this guidance.
This Q1 is on a specific reason because of some internal modification in the system and all. But in long term, it will give a lot of efficiency and even control on the operational manpower. Definitely, it will bring a lot of control on the manpower also, the operational process, the barcoding and QR Code, what we implemented in the current quarter. But one time, we have to do this because to bring that much of efficiency in the system. Otherwise, the growth will be normal as per our expectation of at least around 15%+. Now, just last question. So all margins have come down from 16+% to nearly 15+% now. So we'll move back towards 16%, 17%, or what's the target now because what we understand is the EBITDA margin will support going forward the fuel price.
Basically, currently, around 35%-36%, almost around 37% we are buying from the refinery. After addition of these two firms, again, it may reach around 40%-45% from the refinery alone. So definitely, again, the cost difference is increased. Earlier, the savings was around INR 2. Now, we are saving almost around INR 3+ compared to the market price versus the fuel what we are purchasing from the refinery. So that is going to help us to increase the EBITDA margin. And moreover, the barcoding system, what we put, again, it will give a lot of efficiency in the operations. Again, that will give a boost to increase the EBITDA margin going forward. So we are hoping that definitely, the EBITDA margin will be better than this quarter going forward.
Sure. That's all from my side. Thank you, sir.
Yeah.
Thank you very much. As there are no further questions, I will now like to hand the conference to the management for closing comments.
Yeah. Thanks for all the participants. Basically, as I mentioned, one is our tonnage growth will be intact going forward, and also the EBITDA margins will be better than what we achieved in the Q1. So with this, I thank all the participants and conclude myself. Thank you.
Thank you very much. On behalf of Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us. You may now disconnect your lines. Thank you.