Jindal Stainless Ltd
NSE:JSL

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Jindal Stainless Ltd
NSE:JSL
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Price: 671.55 INR 2.37% Market Closed
Market Cap: 553B INR
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Earnings Call Analysis

Q2-2024 Analysis
Jindal Stainless Ltd

Company Targets Full Asset Utilization

The company is exploring the full utilization of its assets, prioritizing stainless steel production but also considering carbon steel as an option. This is in line with maximizing 100% capacity utilization. A noted 20% volume increase does not account for this additional capacity, suggesting future growth potential. Communicatively, the company is engaged in ongoing dialogues with various government ministries to address the challenges posed by Chinese imports and its impact on the domestic MSME sector. Despite these issues and regulatory uncertainties, the company plans without anticipating any governmental duty changes, maintaining performance expectations.

Confidence in Domestic Demand

The company expressed confidence that domestic stainless steel demand will continue to rise due to robust economic activities, especially in sectors like infrastructure, ethanol, petrochemical, water treatment, and nuclear segments, which are poised to strengthen the stainless steel ecosystem further.

Margins Under Pressure from Raw Material Anomalies

Management noted a discrepancy between the price increases of chrome ore and ferrochrome, with the former rising over 30% and the latter only 4-5%. This skew has caused delays in passing costs to consumers, thus applying pressure on margins. Despite these challenges, the EBITDA margin guidance remains unchanged at around INR 20,000 per tonne.

Strategic Investments and Operations On Track

Investments in Indonesia with Tsingshan are progressing as expected, with operations slated to begin by Q1 of FY '25. Similarly, enhancements at Rathi are due for completion in December, marking the company's first foray into the long products sector, and future capacity expansion decisions will be based on performance analysis.

Capital Allocation and the Strategic Importance of Iber

While the company is assessing capital allocation towards future expansion and will provide updates in the subsequent quarter, it regards the Iber issue as a temporary setback caused by the downturn in the European market, asserting confidence that it will revert to profitability once conditions improve.

Market Strategy Not Dependent on Raw Material Slab Procurement

The company clarified that acquiring raw material slabs is driven by efficiency benefits, not by the necessity for developing the market, which is already growing steadily at 7-8%. The decision to bring in slabs is purely a tactical move based on pricing and efficiency gains, unrelated to market expansion or development.

Chinese Import Impact Limited to Low-End, Low-Margin Products

The company remains unaffected by Chinese imports in high-end sectors such as auto, rail, elevators, etc., where it doesn't face competition. The impact of Chinese products is felt mainly on sentiment and in low-volume and low-margin segments like hollowware and utensils.

Strong Capital Expenditure Reflecting Expansion Goals

The total capital expenditure for the year, including JUSL's, is estimated at INR 3,200 crores to INR 3,300 crores, with about INR 2,000 crores already spent. The remaining amount projected for investment is around INR 1,200 crores to INR 1,300 crores.

Earnings Call Transcript

Earnings Call Transcript
2024-Q2

from 0
Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to the Jindal Stainless Q2 FY '24 Earnings Conference Call hosted by ICICI Securities.

[Operator Instructions]

Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Amit Dixit from ICICI Securities. Thank you, and over to you, sir.

A
Amit Dixit
analyst

Good afternoon, everyone. On behalf of ICICI Securities, I welcome all the participants for Jindal Stainless Limited Q2 FY '24 Conference Call. At the outset, I would like to thank the management for giving us an opportunity to host this call.

From the management, we have with us today Mr. Abhyuday Jindal, Managing Director; Mr. Anurag Mantri, Executive Director and Group CFO, and Ms. Shreya Sharma, Head, Investor Relations.

Without much ado, I would like to hand over the call to Ms. Shreya to take this forward. Over to you, Shreya.

S
Shreya Sharma
executive

Thank you, Amit. Good afternoon, everyone, and a warm welcome on the call. We have shared our Q2 FY '24 earnings presentation with the stock exchanges, which is also available on the company's website and today's call discussions will be on the same line.

Please note some of the information on this call may be forward-looking in nature and is covered by the disclaimer on Slide 2 of the earnings presentation.

Now I would like to hand it over to Mr. Abhyuday Jindal, our Managing Director. Over to you, sir.

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

Thank you, and good afternoon to everyone, and I'd like to welcome you all to the Q2 FY '24 earnings call. I'd like to first, discuss the key business highlights of the quarter, following which Anurag will take you through our operational and financial performance.

Looking at the operational performance, we delivered satisfactory volumes in Q2 FY '24 amid muted global demand. On the other hand, domestic volume increased owing to a robust domestic demand due to government's push for stainless steel in strategic sectors. There is also a strong pre-festive demand in the auto segment besides other consumer-facing segments.

On the operations front, I would also like to share, we have successfully commissioned the incremental capacity of our hot strip mill in JUSL. With this, we have reached 3.2 million tonne capacity of our hot strip mill in Orissa. As active contributor to the Make In India mission of the government, it is a constant endeavor to substitute imports in critical areas. To support this mission, our R&D department created an environmentally friendly product technology for rolled flat plates. These plates are used in industries like petrochemical, thermal power and oil and gas.

On the export front, we are facing challenging macroeconomic conditions, weakened global demand and pricing pressure. This has affected export volume on a quarter-on-quarter basis. However, we have maintained sales in certain global geographies with our continuous innovation and efforts to explore new markets and segments.

On the import side, the unchecked inflow of subsidized and substandard foreign imports continue to distort the level playing field against Indian manufacturers. Chinese imports have increased by nearly 55% year-on-year. We hope the government will take notice of the continuous and dampened imports by China, which is hurting the sector, especially the MSMEs as well as the government's vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

I'm happy to share that all our efforts and hard work are being recognized and are strengthening stakeholder confidence. CARE has upgraded our credit ratings to AA from AA- in view of our consistent improvement in sales volume, our higher than envisage EBITDA per tonne, along with steady improvement in debt coverage metrics. Our endeavor is to focus on more innovation and paradigm shifts in the stainless ecosystem.

To further this vision, Jindal Stainless and IIT Bombay have signed an agreement to establish a Chair Professorship at the institute. This chair will support and enhance research and industrial processes and product technologies in the stainless steel sector. It will drive more innovation and research in the field of steel metallurgy and support our goal to create new benchmarks in durable and sustainable infrastructure.

Moreover, as part of our stainless academy initiative aimed at steel building and creating awareness about the benefits of stainless steel, Jindal Stainless conducted 25 fabricator training programs in various Indian states during Q2 FY '24. Recently, the Bureau of Indian Standards has also introduced three grades, namely N5, N6, N7 meant exclusively for stainless steel using utensils and kitchenware applications. It is an important decision for the welfare of the consumers as critical issues of health and hygiene are involved in food contact materials. In line with this, Jindal Stainless is among the first to apply foreign secure certification for these grades under the ENHANZE standard.

On the ESG front, our efforts towards sustainability and responsibility were facilitated at several industry forums as we received several prestigious award for our energy efficiency and carbon reduction initiatives. As we remain committed to a greener, more sustainable future fueled by environmental responsibility, I'm happy to share Jindal Stainless has also become a member of Responsible Steel, a global nonprofit multistakeholder standard and certification initiative.

Now, with this, I would like to hand over to Anurag to discuss the operational and financial performance. Thank you.

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

Thank you, Abhyuday. Good afternoon, everyone, and a warm welcome to the call today. As highlighted by Abhyuday, we delivered consistent performance amid a challenging global scenario. Let me discuss in detail the operational and financial performance during quarter 2 FY '24.

During Q2 FY '24, the volume increased by 26% on Y-o-Y basis and remained steady on Q-o-Q basis. The standalone revenue rose 14% Y-o-Y to INR 9,720 crores EBITDA, and PAT increased by 54% and 74% to INR 1,070 crores and INR 609 crores, respectively, on a Y-o-Y basis. The H1 standalone revenue increased 19% Y-o-Y to INR 19,748 crore, EBITDA and PAT increased by 42% and 59% to INR 2,188 crore and INR 1,275 crore, respectively, on a Y-o-Y basis.

On the subsidiary front, I would like to first like to give you an update to our Indonesia subsidiary, PTJSI. The Board has approved the proposal to explore the option for selling, liquidating, divesting, equities taken, PTJSI. The decision was taken due to unfavorable market conditions in Indonesia, which is flooded by Chinese imports. On the other side, Indonesian market is dominated by Chinese players and therefore, major markets such as U.S. and European Union have levied severe trade production majors on export of stainless steel production -- products from Indonesia, resulting in lack of level playing field for us.

Consequently, in this challenging environment, PTJSI operations become unviable. This step will help mitigating the potential operational losses and have positive impact on control results in future.

I'm happy to share that the Board has also approved an interim dividend of 50%, or INR 1 per equity share for FY '24. The aggregate payout will be nearly INR 82.34 crores, this will be the third dividend in last 6 months after the merger of JSHL, leveraging the strength of combined balance sheet.

On the balance sheet side, as you noted, there is a considerable improvement in our debt position with 27% reduction in the standalone net debt to INR 2,149 crores as compared to INR 2,956 crores outstanding as of June 30, 2023. This is also being reflected in our leverage ratio, with net debt to EBITDA improved to 0.5, with net debt-to-equity maintained at 0.2 level.

Now on CapEx side, as guided in the previous quarter, the CapEx including JUSL during FY '24, expected to be around INR 3,200 crores to INR 3,300 crores. As of H1 FY '24, out of this total CapEx, we have already spent close INR 2,000 crores. If you recall in our last call, we guided INR 800 crore increase in debt level over March '23 level, which is now expected to increase only by INR 200 crores to meet the FY '24 CapEx of INR 3,200 crores. So earlier, we were expecting to close FY '24 with a debt level of INR 5,400 crores, including JUSL. Now we are improving the closing debt guidance for March '24 to around INR 4,700 crores.

With our focus on digitization, I would also like to share that Jindal Stainless has become the first Indian corporate to execute a path-breaking live shipment transactions through EBL, powered by public blockchain involving different platforms of vendors, shippers and banks to make it completely paperless across geographies. This was kicked off in G20 Trade Ministers Meeting between India and Singapore.

On the demand outlook, we are confident that domestic stainless steel demand will continue to rise with robust economic activities in infrastructure support and demand. And then project activities in ethanol, petrochemical, water treatment and nuclear segments will further strengthen the stainless steel ecosystem.

With this, I would like to end my discussion and would request the moderator to open the floor for Q&A session.

Operator

[Operator Instructions]

The first question is from the line of Kirtan Mehta from BOB Capital Markets.

K
Kirtan Mehta
analyst

And congratulations for maintaining a strong set of numbers as well. I wanted to understand in terms of the -- your sales mix, which we are currently running at around 2.2 million tonne level, how much it is supported by the old existing plant and how much the new plant has now contributing to the volumes?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

So -- I mean, it's a integrated unit. So we are in the ramp-up phase with our -- the expansion that we have just completed in March. And we expect in the next 2 years to be completed. So in terms of -- if I can tell you volume guidance, this year, we will atleast have a 20% volume growth as compared to last year. So -- because it's a ramp-up, I mean it's the mix of both coming out.

K
Kirtan Mehta
analyst

But is it possible to indicate how much volume is supported by the new capacity during the latest quarter?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

Kirtan, actually, we, as you know, it's -- ramping up, as Abhyuday mentioned, the ramping up is happening in the right direction. The only thing is that -- because we do also the slab imports and trading. So we don't want to have a very specific thing. Our overall idea is to improve the sales and margins in that. That new capacity is expected to be fully utilized by next year. So what we guided that we will gradually ramp this up and it's on track for that.

K
Kirtan Mehta
analyst

Fine. And one more question in terms of the sort of the margin outlook looking forward. So we have seen some bit of easing of the nickel as well as the raw material prices and at the point, stainless is also easing. So how do you see the margin environment doing over near next 3 to 6 months?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

So see, raw material prices are actually -- eventually gets passed through. But here, one thing I would like to highlight last 6 months, there is a big anomaly which has happened between chrome ore and ferro chrome. So ferro chrome prices have not increased to the extent that chrome ore prices have increased. Chrome ore prices have jumped up more by more than 30%, while the ferrochrome prices have just jumped up 4%, 5%. So there was obviously a delay in the pass back to the consumer because that's based on the ferrochrome prices.

So margins from raw material perspective I think, to that extent, that pressure remains. But I think the large question remains what Abhyuday covered in his opening remarks, is the Chinese imports, which actually keep distorting the pricing ecosystem. So we are -- considering that all this, we have a...

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

Despite that, we are not changing our guidance. So it will be, even to the end of this year, around, you can say INR 20,000 per tonne.

K
Kirtan Mehta
analyst

Right. And just one more...

Operator

[Operator Instructions]

We take the next question from the line of Ritesh Shah from Investec.

R
Ritesh Shah
analyst

I have four questions, if allowed? Sir, first is Tsingshan, JV what is the progress and the time lines?

Second is Rathi Steels, the investment has already been done. Are we looking to up the capacity over here? What's the incremental CapEx and time lines? So first is Tsingshan second is Rathi.

Third is JUSL. This is specifically for Mr. Mantri. There is a pretty strong cash flow at EBITDA level over here, but we do not see the decline in debt. It's only INR 20 crores. So I just wanted to understand the cash flow bridge?

And again, specific to JUSL, how are we looking at the volume tonnages for 3.2 million tonnes. That's something that you have commissioned?

And lastly, for Mr. Jindal, if you can detail out on the capital allocation framework, the three buckets? And congratulations for putting out this framework out.

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

So first two in terms of our investment in Indonesia with Tsingshan is on track. We expect the operations to start by Q1 of FY '25. So those are on track and it is closely being tracked as the senior team is right now in Indonesia. So I'll have a real report by next week. But everything, whatever I've spoken to them when they were there, everything seems to be on track.

Secondly, for our Rathi, we expect operations to start by December. We -- after our investment of around INR 206 crores, we have invested another INR 100 crores more to stabilize ramp up, improve the plant efficiency equipment. So that will all be completed by December.

So from -- but if your question was, are we further enhancing our capacity in Rathi, not as of now. After this, we would like to see how the unit performs, it's our first entry into long products. So are we meeting our numbers, our target market and how the market performs. Only after that, we can enhance. There is capacity available to enhance -- I mean, space available to enhance there, but that will only be taken once we really get into it. Yes, you can...

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

On your question of JUSL strong cash flow, you are right. Basically, JUSL earned more close to INR 400 crore EBITDA in H1. And there was a strong cash generation after paying the interest of around INR 100 crore and the CapEx -- or CapEx numbers and all these thing. So as on 30th September, as you know, it's a [indiscernible] model. So there was a receivable, which got built up from JSL because JSL receivable of JUSL were not paid. And therefore, there is a receivable [indiscernible] in JUSL book.

With that cash idea was that because JUSL debt is actually a long-term debt of 17 years. And recently, their rating has been upgraded to AA-. And consecutively, you will see in coming quarter -- we have got a rate reduction -- considerable rate reduction in JUSL now. So it's a long-term, low interest rate debt. Therefore, we were -- we wanted to upstream the cash.

And I would be happy to say that on 7th October, post the quarter, these receivables were then knocked off and there was a dividend of INR 200 crore, which was paid by JUSL to JSL. So that cash has come to JSL things. So basically, that cash was anyway lying as a payable in JSL book. But then formerly, when JUSL has announced the INR 200 crore dividend, which was -- which is completely received by JSL and to that extent that their debtors have also come down.

So the cash has been upstreamed to JSL. And this will also not be taxable in JSL hand because JSL is also consecutively paying the dividend. So there would not be any taxability. So it's some more efficient upstreaming of the cash from the cash generating subsidiary.

R
Ritesh Shah
analyst

This is very helpful. Sir, just to understand the numbers that you gave for debt reduction, INR 800 crores to INR 600 crores, is that gap because of this or something else, upstreaming INR 200 crores?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

No, it's not only INR 200 crore. There was also a working capital optimization due to -- partly due to some of the raw material prices have also come down. So we actually have freed up almost INR 500 crores to INR 600 crores cash in the system. And that has helped us to reduce the debt for that.

If you recall, last time, we actually guided that, the debt will increase and will end up the year by almost INR 5,400 crores. Now with this type of working capital efficiency, I think we can -- and we are revising our guidance to the improvement side. And with all larger CapEx have already been matched and it's on track. So maybe around INR 4,700 crores is what the closing number looks like at this instant.

R
Ritesh Shah
analyst

Just last question for Mr. Jindal. Sir, if you could just detail on the capital allocation framework. I think it's a pretty strong move by the company.

And secondly, we are evaluating the Indonesian assets, the mill which you are there. We have a loss-making entity called Iber I presume it's the European assets. how strategic is this? And would we look to evaluate it? Or it continues to run as is?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

I'll take the Iber question first. So Iber is just been a temporary phenomenon. Since the European market has gone down after the war and everything that started, that has been the negative situation. Actually, that has created in Iber. Otherwise, we are very bullish and it has done very well. If you look at the history of Iber, it has always performed well and been in profit. It is only the last 1.5 years where we've got some issues there and the market has just not taken off.

Even though now it has. Now we see already our inventory levels are down there. We are again starting to send some more material to our Iber facility. The minute Europe picks up, definitely, Iber will do very well. So Iber is just a very temporary phenomenon. It is not the similar situation like Indonesia. Indonesia, even in future, we felt that the performance would not be very strong. That's why we've taken this call for Indonesia, but Iber is still very confident that the minute market turns around, Iber will turn around also.

And in terms of -- okay. And yes, this is capital allocation. Basically, in terms of our future expansion plans, I would still like till next quarter before I announced that because a lot of new investments we have made that you know, Rathi, our expansion, Indonesia. So we're working on our plans. We are seeing how export market will again take off then by next quarter, we can announce further capital allocation.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Pratik Singhania from SageOne Investment.

P
Pratik Singhania
analyst

With respect to this slab procurement from importing from outside and then the entire process, what is the strategy? Do you want to first build a market and then do the utilization level -- capacities that we have built up? Any detailed...

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

Pratik, slab you should see as a raw material for us. We are looking at it. We can either move toward a slab, we can bring the slab in or we can bring scrap and other raw materials in. So depending on what is the price or what is the kind of efficiency or improvement we're getting, that is the only time we are going to bring in the slabs.

So it is not something that it is required or it is a must -- it is a raw material. We see good benefit coming out of it. That is why we're continuing it. I hope that is your question that you're asking or what is your specific question on this?

P
Pratik Singhania
analyst

So my question was whether we are first trying to develop the market before we lead the entire capacity expansion, which we are trying to be in FY '25 the ramp up.

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

No, there's nothing like that. The market is already there. The market is going at 7%, 8%. So it's nothing to do with the market. It is more from a margin and raw material kind of benefit. That is why we're doing it. Nothing to do with market.

P
Pratik Singhania
analyst

And with JUSL since the new lines has been operationalized. Now most of the production is happening, the new line? Or we are still in being partially.

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

For JUSL, it was capacity enhancement. We were at 1.6. And having reheating furnace and a down coiler, the capacity has gone to 3.2. So it is the same line. There's no new line that has been added.

P
Pratik Singhania
analyst

Right. And with respect to this Chinese import, like obviously you know the trends which company has because of which you are entering the EBITDA margins. But a couple of points or 2,3 points if you can highlight is specifically giving you this confidence of maintaining the EBITDA margins despite this Chinese import increasing Y-o-Y?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

See, so one thing that is very important to understand is that where China is hitting us is in the lowest, I mean, it is from volume-wise, also, it is very low for us, and from margin-wise, it is also very low for us. So it actually impacts more on sentiment than anything else. And because they are not able to compete with us in the high-end sectors, in your auto, in your white gold, railway, lift, elevator, all these areas is not where China is dumping and impacting us. It is more in the hollowware, utensils, pipe and tube. These are the kind of areas where they're impacting.

So that is why it is our margin, which is not going above 20% more to the factor of export, I can say. China, definitely, some imports are regulated, that would also help growing the market and our market share. But margins, I say it is more because exports are subdued right now. That is why margins are around 19.5% to 20%.

P
Pratik Singhania
analyst

Right. So that was my subsequent question that are we seeing any green shoots in the European side with respect to exports?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

Not immediately, but we expect from January onwards from our market research and our customer discussions, from January onwards to pick up. Already destocking has started, which was very slow earlier which is why I was in my previous answer, I was saying that even through our Iber subsidiary unit, that gives us a very clear direction how the market is performing.

So already because sales have picked up there, and we are sending more materials to our subsidiary there, market has already started improving. January onwards, it should do better.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Mudit Bhandari from IIFL Securities.

M
Mudit Bhandari
analyst

Am I audible?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

Yes.

M
Mudit Bhandari
analyst

Yes. So regarding JUSL, can you tell how much is the volume in terms of captive for JSL and for third party? And in terms of EBITDA also how much is bifurcated for JSL and for the third parties? And also going forward, will the percentage remain the same?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

Mudit, the internal job done by the JUSL in this quarter, for JSL is about [ 4,28,850 ] tonnes. And outside sale is basically near about 1,900 tonne, 1,900 tonnes.

M
Mudit Bhandari
analyst

Okay. And so...

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

It's mainly for internal consumption rather than external [indiscernible].

M
Mudit Bhandari
analyst

And will continue on this model only even after 3.2 expansion?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

Yes, absolutely.

M
Mudit Bhandari
analyst

Okay. Got it. And regarding standalone CapEx. So can you tell what is the remaining CapEx are from NPI Indonesia and other acquisitions? What is the remaining standalone CapEx that you have to do?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

The total CapEx, including the JUSL for this year is around INR 3,200 crores to INR 3,300 crores, of which INR 2,000 crores have already been spent, so remaining is around close to INR 1,200 crores to INR 1,300 crores.

M
Mudit Bhandari
analyst

Yes. So I'm just asking, can you just bifurcate it how much -- which line item is spending?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

So it's pending for, say, some of the NPI facility investment debt will go, then there are some normal CapEx is also pending, which are there. Rathi CapEx also for spending the Renew Powe, equity that's also pending. So it's across -- but broadly, the strategic the CapEx number, which is outstanding is across all [indiscernible] around INR 1,200 crore, INR 1,300 crore.

Operator

[Operator Instructions]

The next question is from the line of Ritwik Sheth from One Up Financial.

U
Unknown Analyst

Sir, a clarification in the -- starting of the call, you mentioned about capital allocation and talking about some CapEx plans after the next quarter. So is this regarding to some specific CapEx? Or general plan for FY '25, '26?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

No, this is basically for our further expansion in increasing our stainless steel capacity that we are working on, which next quarter is when we'll be ready to announce.

U
Unknown Analyst

Okay. Okay. Great. Okay. And so a couple of questions. Firstly, on the Indonesian unit, what is the current capital employed in this subsidiary?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

It's around the INR 325 crores to plus -- around INR 331 crore, actually.

U
Unknown Analyst

Okay. Okay. So this could be relieved and upstream to us -- would that be a fair -- or there will be some loss on this?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

It's -- I need to say -- so we are exploring all the options how to do that. Some of the equipments are in very good condition. We will -- we can -- we have an option to bring it back into India. The land over there is also there is a -- because it's strategically located in the export zone. And prior Indonesia, because of their -- becoming a key manufacturing of the prices have increased.

So with all this -- but it's early to say that's why we had taken enabling reversion. We are now working on exploring what is -- what can maximize the value for us and accordingly, we'll work out the final plan.

U
Unknown Analyst

Sure. And what was the loss in the current quarter or the first half from this subsidy?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

The [indiscernible] loss in this quarter was INR 28 crore.

U
Unknown Analyst

Okay. Okay. And sir, one more question on the subsidiaries only. Is it possible to give the split between the subsidiaries, including JUSL, the domestic subsidiaries and the international subsidiaries for Q2 and H1?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

Yes, we can give you -- maybe we can -- there are too many numbers because Q2 has happened and maybe I'll ask Shreya to send you the numbers.

Operator

[Operator Instructions]

The next question is from the line of Kunal Kothari from Centrum Broking.

K
Kunal Kothari
analyst

So I would like to know about the CapEx plan for FY '25 and '26. So as we will be completing most of our CapEx plan in FY '24, what is there to see -- what will be the, first of all, sustainable CapEx for the entire consolidated capacity? And what has been planned for rest of the CapEx in FY '25 and '26.

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

See FY '26, Kunal, as just now that you are working on the strategy, and I think we'll see that how we ramp it up maybe by next quarter, we'll be able to tell better that how we'll take our next phase of CapEx.

Now FY '25 will be, as of -- based on the current announced CapEx, there would be some CapEx remaining of this, like some of the NCI payment depending on when they complete the project, also some of the spillover CapEx. So it may not be very high CapEx based on the current announcement.

Normal maintenance sustenance CapEx at the group level may be including JUSL, Rathi, a bit early, but I think our sense is that because what we were running at current levels, maintenance sustaining CapEx will be close to around INR 500 crore to INR 600 crore on an average going forward.

Because Rathi capacity could also take initially. So like not too much, it will be required into JUSL as well, but I think between Rathi and if there are some upgradation those are actually always ongoing projects.

Operator

[Operator Instructions]

The next question is from Pratim Roy from B&K Securities.

P
Pratim Roy
analyst

Sir, I have one question. [indiscernible] so what kind of return you can expect in the near term, if you can -- on that part?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

NPI payback once it start is expected to be around 3 to 4 years because depending on the -- obviously, the nickel prices in the spread, so I think once it starts, it will take 3 to 4 -- we are expecting the payback in 3 to 4 years.

P
Pratim Roy
analyst

So any IRR you're expecting in particular number?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

It's you see...

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

25%, up to 25%.

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

And our capital allocation policy all projects we take atleast 15% plus IRR. So jointly 4 years CapEx will be higher than this.

P
Pratim Roy
analyst

Then 25%, right?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

Yes.

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

25% IRR.

Operator

[Operator Instructions]

Next question is from Ritesh Shah from Investec.

R
Ritesh Shah
analyst

Sir, what sort of cash flows do we expect from Rathi? You indicated that we will have the operations running in December, I presume that after 2 months. And the capacity over there was around [ 162 kg ]. So what sort of EBITDA profile are we looking at over here? How do we approach the market? That is one.

And just a second question on Tsingshan, you also indicated that it's pretty much on stream even if you factor the payback of, say, 4 years, 5 years, and are we looking at around INR 250 crores, INR 300 crores of incremental contribution from this particular asset as well?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

So in terms of Rathi it's still a little early. And the way that we are planning is that right now, when we start, it will be a little low margin because it is a new entry long products for us, long product rebar, wire rod is totally new for our company. So we want to really enter with the low-margin, low-quality kind of area. So it will not be -- it will be around, I would say, between 8,000 to 12,000 tonnes -- per tonne.

And then gradually, as we stabilize as our confidence in the market, in the technology, in the product picks up, then our strategy is to move to those higher variants, higher margin rates. So it's a journey. It's a transition. It is -- still a little too early to give exact numbers, but this is the larger plan. And your second question was on...

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

On NPI, sort, you are right, if you take us, say, $157 million investment and say, 4 years. So close to $40 million, $39 million to $40 million could accrue every year, so INR 250 crore INR 300 crore.

R
Ritesh Shah
analyst

Sure. And lastly, are we looking at any inorganic opportunities that is one. And earlier we had indicated that we were open to starting for nickel mines but based on the capital allocation framework, what we have indicated is 15% IRR. Will we still be open to looking at particular mine or our focus will be on more downstream assets?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

We are open to all options, Ritesh. I would not like to say that it's only downstream or upstream depending on following a capital framework, capital allocation framework, if either downstream or upstream fits into it, we will go for that. Raw material security is always something that is a good thing to have for companies of our size. So there is nothing immediately on the cards in terms of any mine or any inorganic opportunity.

But now, we are keeping our eyes, ears, everything open and anything that fits into our capital allocation framework, which we have also posted in our website and on our investor presentation we would like to follow through that only.

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

So whatever NCLT we are keeping an eye open that on some of these downstream facilities which keep coming in NCLT framework, we continue to evaluate actively on those.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Ashish Kejriwal from Nuvama Wealth Management.

A
Ashish Kejriwal
analyst

Two questions from my side. One, if I'm looking at the cash -- we see that there was some INR 1,300 crore, which was payment against noncurrent investment. I understand that this could be because of Indonesia project as well as what we paid to JUSL. But is it possible to break it down because JUSL, I think we need to pay around INR 960 crores, and INR 600 crores we have paid to -- for Indonesia project. So it should be something INR 1,550 crore versus cash flow suggests INR 1,300 crore. So is there any other line item where we have put this INR 250 crore? Or what -- where is it?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

So all this is in this line item because it's going through the tranches. So all -- both of the investments are in this line item only, Ashish. INR 1,300 crore includes both tranches for JUSL as well as the tranche of NPI.

A
Ashish Kejriwal
analyst

So is it safe to assume that INR 250 crores is yet to be paid in one of the -- that cash flow needs to be delivered later on?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

Yes, I told you that out of INR 3,200 crore, only INR 2,000 crore has been consummated. Balance INR 1,200 crore will come into the -- transfer NPI.

A
Ashish Kejriwal
analyst

No, no, no. My question was because I think INR 960 crores, we have paid for JUSL acquisition or still needs to pay?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

Yes. It's INR 958 crores has been fully paid for JUSL.

A
Ashish Kejriwal
analyst

Okay. So INR 960 crores has been paid. And then the remaining this out of INR 1,300 crores, it comes to the roughly you can say around INR 950 crores?

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

Yes, I think you can...

A
Ashish Kejriwal
analyst

No, my question was that in our notes to account, we have mentioned that we have paid something like INR 600 crores on Indonesia project also. That's what I was looking at. That's not matching.

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

INR 600 crores, no I think...

A
Ashish Kejriwal
analyst

INR 527 crores, we have paid and then INR 60 crores -- INR 80 crore for the investment is there.

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

Yes. So around close to INR 500 crores.

A
Ashish Kejriwal
analyst

I'll check once again.

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

Yes.

A
Ashish Kejriwal
analyst

Second question was in terms of the further expansion, obviously, we will get a more sense on the next quarter. But whatever expansion we are going to do, is it safe to say that, that will take at least 1.5 to 2 years from the cash rate, which means that by FY '25, we will commission all our existing capacity and maybe FY '26 could be a year where we can take a pause and then '27 again, growth will happen?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

Absolutely. I think, Ashish, at a broader level, what you're saying is correct.

Operator

[Operator Instructions]

The next question is from Vikash Singh from PhillipCapital.

V
Vikash Singh
analyst

Sir, I just wanted to understand when we give an EBITDA per tonne guidance of INR 19,000 to INR 21,000, is we -- now we are giving it including JUSL or it's excluding JUSL?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

It's excluding JUSL. Only for standalone JSL.

V
Vikash Singh
analyst

So with JUSL, it could be INR 3,000 to INR 4,000 higher per tonne basis. Is that the correct assumption?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

Yes that's correct...

A
Anurag Mantri
executive

With JUSL, the EBITDA per tonne at consol basis will be INR 22,000 to INR 24,000 per tonne.

V
Vikash Singh
analyst

Understood. And sir, my second question pertains to -- I wanted your thought process on the [indiscernible] stainless steel policy. If you could give us some insight into that how it's going to help us -- it would be really nice.

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

See, basically, the basic idea is that steel and stainless steel always kind of ends up getting clubbed together. So no matter -- even though certain specific policies are meant for steel, stainless steel invariably gets added, and then we get the impact. So like one example to share that is the export duty. When export duty, last year, was levied on steel, stainless steel, and after multiple rounds of discussion with the ministry, with everybody, under the table, if I can say, they admitted that stainless export duty should have not been levied.

But because of the kind of understanding, because there is no separate policy, separate focus on stainless steel, it ends up getting club. So like -- another example I can give you is that a lot of questions I started getting last year, the iron ore [Foreign Language]. That's why all everything went off sync and off-track.

So then I had to explain to everybody that the stainless steel producer, we don't consume a single kg of iron ore. So that impact is more on steel players rather than stainless steel players. So having a policy on its own because the kind of applications, the kind of raw materials, the kind of quality standard that stainless steel has is totally different from steel and the kind of sector that are coming out like your desalination plant, ethanol plant, LNG terminals or pharma sector is picking up a lot, all of this requires stainless steel to be consumed more and more. So with the policy coming up it will only help in enhancing the market, enhancing the awareness of stainless steel and giving us our own kind of footing rather than getting clogged with steel industry.

V
Vikash Singh
analyst

Understood, sir. So basically, we could get some delinking from the steel industry policies...

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

That is the [indiscernible] idea, delink from steel industry is the broader idea.

V
Vikash Singh
analyst

Sir, just last question, if I may understand. If I just detect the JUSL EBITDA from our consolidated, then our EBITDA per tonne seems to be somewhere around INR 19,000, is a kind of a 2,800 per ton dip on a sequential basis. So is this because of the inventory losses or the product mix, which has played into?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

Because this is mainly because of export market. Export is, I mean, an important market for us, and we supply mainly to European and U.S. market, which has very good margins. That being subdued in this quarter has led to a little dip in our EBITDA per tonne. Otherwise, I don't think so we would have done better on...

V
Vikash Singh
analyst

Okay. Any kind of uptick, which you have seen or we have to wait couple of quarters for that?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

It has started a little bit, but we expect major uptick to happen from January onwards. They will all go on their winter vacation also. So once they're back, then we should see some uptick starting.

Operator

[Operator Instructions]

The next question is from the line of Amit Dixit from ICICI Securities.

A
Amit Dixit
analyst

I have a couple of questions. One is on the product mix. So what was the product mix between 200, 300 and 400 in this quarter? And did the reduced level of exports actually alter this product mix in any way?

S
Shreya Sharma
executive

So Amit, I'll take your question on product mix. So I said in an order of 200, 300 and 400 series, it was 36%, 44% and 20% for the Q2 FY '24.

A
Amit Dixit
analyst

Okay. And since our export level was reduced. So -- I mean, had we maintained a similar level of export. So would that -- would this product mix have been any different? Or is it the normalized product mix that you're looking at?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

So 400 would have been a little bit higher if export was there, then 400 series would have been a little bit higher and 200 would have been a little bit lower, I would say. 300, you can say, remains around 45% to 50%.

A
Amit Dixit
analyst

Okay. The second bit is on actually the capacity side. So now we have 3.2 HSM commissioned at JUSL. Is there and since the domestic market looks so buoyant, particularly with [indiscernible] orders and all coming in. So is there any thought process to utilize this capacity to maximum -- maybe rolling stainless steel slab or maybe using it for custom rolling of carbon steel because at the end of the day, we would like to fit this asset? Is it the right assumption.

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

That is definitely the target. Both areas is what we are exploring. First reference will be stainless steel and otherwise carbon steel. But absolutely, we have to utilize all our assets to 100% capacity utilization. So these are, like you said, on the cards.

A
Amit Dixit
analyst

And the number that you gave on -- for volume, 20%, that includes or excludes that option?

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

That excludes that option.

A
Amit Dixit
analyst

Okay. So that is over and above...

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

That is over and above....

A
Amit Dixit
analyst

Yes. The final question from my side, we have seen that regulatory environment is becoming more conducive for stainless steel particularly because of some of the investments that have been instituted recently. Now Chinese imports have gone up 55%, although it doesn't impact us directly in many of the segments. But as industry leader, have we approached the government regarding this influx? And can you give some color on what actions are being contemplated to...

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

Constant dialogue is on -- at all ministry levels from steel ministry, which is definitely a parent ministry, commerce ministry and finance ministry. So continuous dialogues are on, and we are really trying to showcase to the government that more than Jindal stainless as an organization, it is the MSME sector that is suffering. It is that their capacity utilization is less than 50%. How can a country like India not be dependent on manufacturing, how can we only be dependent on trade.

So all these kind of dialogues are on. We have taken the support and help of media also to showcase that how much is the trade effected between India, China, how much is -- and not only to these levels, we have also approached to our association into the PMO, so a lot of dialogues are on, but I cannot say with a lot of confidence whether I see something happening in our favor.

So it is a tough situation. You know that government is not supporting and listening to the industry despite severe dumping happening from the last 3 to 4 years. So dialogue is on. We are not going to leave this at all. It is something that we're taking up at all levels, like I mentioned already. The fight will be on. We are not going to leave it, but nothing -- no change and no new information has come out. I think also being an election year, they might take it up after only.

A
Amit Dixit
analyst

Okay. Wonderful. That's very helpful. Thanks and all the best.

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

But I can also add that when we are planning, we are taking this as a status quo. We are not taking a duty coming in as any reason to reduce or anything on numbers at all. So we take this as given that more duty is there and we perform without it.

A
Amit Dixit
analyst

Okay. Great. Got it.

Operator

That was the last question in queue. I would now like to hand the conference back to Mr. Amit Dixit for closing comments.

A
Amit Dixit
analyst

So I would like to thank everyone for attending the call and fruitful discussion that we had action. I would also like to thank the management for sparing their time and elaborate explanation. I would like to hand over the call to Mr. Jindal now for any closing comments.

A
Abhyuday Jindal
executive

Thank you, Amit. And let me thank everyone else also for attending this call. I would like to reiterate that it is a strong economic activities that are pulling up cost at demand across segments. I would also like to highlight, as the national tenancy policy shapes up, we are confident that the per capita consumption of sales in India will increase from the current 2.8 kg in the coming years.

I hope we have been able to answer all your questions in a satisfactory manner. Should you need any further clarifications or you would like to know more about the company, please feel free to contact our Investor Relations team. Thank you all for attending.

Operator

Thank you very much. On behalf of ICICI Securities, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen, you may now disconnect your lines.

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