Tata Steel held a conference call to discuss standalone quarterly and nine months ended results and future growth plans. Koushik Chatterjee, Group CFO addressed the call.
Financial Highlights
- For the quarter ended Dec’08 Tata Steel reported a 3% fall in Total Income (Net Sales / Income from Operations + Other Operating Income) to Rs 4802.14 crore. The OPM decreased sharply by 1000 basis points to 30.8%.
- The subsequent Operating Profit for the quarter under review stood at Rs 1477.95 crore which was 27% lower when compared with corresponding period last year. The subsequent PAT for the quarter under review stood at Rs 466.24 crore which was 56% lower on a Y-o-Y basis comparison.
Highlights of the Call
- The hot metal production during the quarter under review stood at 1.70 million tonnes, which was higher by 23% as compared to volumes in the same quarter last year.
- The Steel Production during the quarter ended Dec’08 was 1.235 Million tonnes as compared to 1.246 Million tonnes during the corresponding period last year indicating a fall of 0.9% on a Y-o-Y basis comparison.
- The Steel Sales during the quarter Dec’08 was 1.072 Million tonnes as compared to 1.244 Million tonnes during the corresponding period last year indicating a fall of 13.8% on a Y-o-Y basis comparison.
- The Saleable steel volume guidance for Q4FY’09 is 1.5 Million tonnes (Mt) while that for the FY’10 is 6.5 Mt.
- Performance during the quarter under review was impacted by a planned 17-day shutdown of HSM
- The average blended realization for quarter ended Dec’08 was around Rs 33000-34000 per tonne as compared to Rs 41000 per tonne during the quarter ended Sept’08.
- The prices of Ferro Chrome has declined sharply from Rs 100000 per tonne during Sept’08 to currently around Rs 62000 per tonne
- The Net Debt position as on 31st December 2008 stands at Rs 24000 crore
- The capex incurred during the 9MFY’09 stands at Rs 2100 crore
- The planned capex for the FY’10 is aorund Rs 3500 –4000 crore