KPR Mill Ltd
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Earnings Call Transcript

Earnings Call Transcript
2022-Q4

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Operator

Hi, everyone. Thank you for joining us today for K.P.R's Fourth Quarter FY '22 Earnings Conference Call. We are joined today by Mr. P. Nataraj, the Managing Director of K.P.R.; Mr. Murugappan, the Chief Financial Officer; and Mr. Kandaswamy, the Company Secretary. And now without any further delay, I'll hand it over to management.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes. Thank you. A very good evening to everyone. I'm Nataraj, Managing Director of K.P.R. Mill. I welcome you all for the K.P.R. Mill Fourth Quarter Earnings call for the year 2022. We are glad to report a good financial results, driven by solid performance from all segments during the quarter as well as for the whole year. K.P.R. achieved an all-time high turnover and profit after tax during the year. The textile business continues to be good. The demand for apparel products is also on the uptrend. The historical high demand for cotton resulted in spiraling its prices, both at domestic and the international markets due to which the yarn prices have also gone up. The expansion projects of garment capacity and sugar, cogen and ethanol capacity have been successfully implemented. The outstanding HR practice has ensured a smooth mobilization of labor for our expanded capacities.

Currently, the domestic product with [ potential ] are sold through more than 3,000 retail stores. With the support of all stakeholders, K.P.R. could continue the better performance. With these opening remarks, the floor is now open for question-and-answer session. Thank you.

Operator

[Operator Instructions] The first question is from the line of Kapil Jagasia from Edelweiss Financial Service.

K
Kapil Jagasia
analyst

Congratulations on good set of numbers, sir. Sir, firstly, can you help us with your production numbers for yarn, garment and sugar and ethanol?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yarn, 21,185; fabric, 6,000; garment, 34 million; sugar, 1 lakh 22,000 tonnes; ethanol, 115 lakh liters.

K
Kapil Jagasia
analyst

Okay. And, likewise, the volume numbers?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes. Yarn, 489 crores; fabric, 86 crores; garments, 593 crores; sugar, 144 crores; ethanol, 55 crores.

K
Kapil Jagasia
analyst

Okay. Sir, earlier you were giving the production numbers, right?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, production and received.

K
Kapil Jagasia
analyst

Okay. And the volume numbers would be?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Volume, you're asking?

K
Kapil Jagasia
analyst

Yes, yes, volume.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yarn, 14,000 tonnes; fabric, 2,200 tonnes; garment, 38 million; sugar, 45,000; ethanol, 88 lakh liters.

K
Kapil Jagasia
analyst

Okay. So garment we have achieved significant numbers this quarter, 38 million, like 38 million basically?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, yes. The garment sales during the quarter is a little higher than the previous quarter because last quarter, we had some container issues. Those stocks are also cleared during this quarter.

K
Kapil Jagasia
analyst

Okay. So going forward, there won't be any issues with container shortage?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Some small disturbance are there, but we feel we can manage it.

Operator

The line for the participant dropped. We move to the next participant. The next question is from the line of Biplab Debbarma.

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

Congratulations on the good set of numbers. Sir, first is, in the -- from the new capacity [indiscernible], you have produced around 124 million pieces in this financial year of garments. And you have 150 million capacity, and there is a new capacity addition right, sir? So from the new capacity, how much you have produced in this financial year? And what is the -- how much ramp-up happened? This is my first question.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

The ramp-up is about 23% now, not significant production happened during the quarter. A small production happened. It was added into the production.

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

So how you have produced 124 million in garment, sir? That's a huge number.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

The 124 million in garment, basically, the capacity is measured in the basic garments, basic T shirts. When we are doing something else, some plain garments kind of thing, the quantity will go up.

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

Okay. Okay. That's fine. That's fine. And sir, what would be the -- your order book in garment now?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

It's about INR 900 crores.

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

INR 900 crores, okay. And sir, on the sugar ethanol segment in the new capacity, is it now at full capacity? I mean, has it been totally operational also? What is the status of that?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Can you come again?

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

I mean, sir, the new capacity that you have added -- the sugar ethanol capacity.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

We have commissioned to the sugar from power plant during the March. We are commissioning the ethanol plant in this quarter.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Mulesh Savla from Shah & Savla.

M
Mulesh Savla;Shah & Savla
analyst

Congratulations on a good set of numbers, sir. My question is in continuation with one of the previous questions where you said that because of container problem, the garment of previous quarter was -- garment sale of previous quarter was shifted to the current quarter. And when I look at the export numbers, our export in the overall revenue has come down from 65% to 62%. So how do you read that number, sir?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Can you come again?

M
Mulesh Savla;Shah & Savla
analyst

Our export has come down in the overall revenue. Previously, our...

P
P. Nataraj
executive

That is not depending on the -- percentage wise, you cannot calculate. If you look at the total exports of garments during the year, it's about 1,876 crores.

M
Mulesh Savla;Shah & Savla
analyst

1,876 crores, okay.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

So it is almost -- it's almost to 30% more than the previous year.

M
Mulesh Savla;Shah & Savla
analyst

So maybe because our sugar and ethanol division has started contributing more, and that can be one of the reason for increasing the domestic sales?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, that is -- domestic sale has gone up because of the sugar business and the increase in the yarn realization.

M
Mulesh Savla;Shah & Savla
analyst

Okay. Okay. Okay. And sir, how much is the cotton stock with us as we have noticed that in the recent past, government has reduced the import duty on the cotton -- will it have any impact on our valuation?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Sir, currently, we are getting a cotton stock of about 3 months. And the import duties actually did not have much of impact because it was removed after the season. So whatever duty has been removed, it did not have an impact as the price was increased due to that.

M
Mulesh Savla;Shah & Savla
analyst

So basically, we may not expect any reduction in the closing stock valuation in coming quarters?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, price may not go down, but the only benefit happened to us was the availability of cotton has increased.

M
Mulesh Savla;Shah & Savla
analyst

Okay. So that's a good part for the industry as a whole?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, yes.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Cheragh Sidhwa from ICICI Securities.

C
Cheragh Sidhwa
analyst

Congratulations for a very good set of numbers. Sir, my first question pertains in terms of CapEx. So we had charted on the CapEx worth [ INR 750 crores] towards garmenting and sugar in this year. And if I'm not wrong, we had already incurred INR 235 crores in the previous year as well. And the balance, INR 500 crores was supposed to be incurred this year. But sir, when I see the cash flow statement, the CapEx, which I can see is close to around INR 890 crores. So why is it significantly higher? Can you throw some right on the same? What is included in that INR 890 crore CapEx?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Your line is not very clear. Can you come again?

C
Cheragh Sidhwa
analyst

Sir, when you see the cash flow statement for this year, it is showing a CapEx worth INR 890 crores, which is significantly higher than what we were expecting close to INR 560 crores, INR 570 crores. So can you throw some light on the same? What does this CapEx include with INR 890 crores?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

We have done 2 projects. One is a garment project, another one is sugar and apparels.

C
Cheragh Sidhwa
analyst

Correct, sir, but that was INR 750 crores.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

All together, we have estimated somewhere around INR 800 crores. Since we have done some modernization in the plant, it has gone up to INR 900 crores.

C
Cheragh Sidhwa
analyst

Okay. Okay. And sir, CapEx number for this year, any major CapEx coming up in FY '23?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

We are in the process of ramping up the existing projects that we have completed recently. We will decide the further CapEx during this year.

C
Cheragh Sidhwa
analyst

Okay. So ballpark will be our modernization, maintenance, which is close to INR 100 crores to INR 150 crores, one should consider for this year? You have no major CapEx [ in the house ].

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, modernization generally happens in the existing mills, both garment and textile. That will continue. That will be somewhere around INR 100 crores to INR 150 crores will be there.

C
Cheragh Sidhwa
analyst

And sir, the other question pertains to the cotton inventory, which we have in the next 3 months. What will be the average costing for the cotton inventory which we have currently?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Somewhere around INR 80,000, INR 85,000.

Operator

Next question is from the line of Sunil Kothari from Unique Portfolio Management Service.

S
Sunil Kothari
analyst

Congratulation Mr. Nataraj and team for such a wonderful performance for -- continuously during every year. Sir, my question is year-on-year, I'm talking about full year yarn realization, which has gone up from around INR 220 to INR 302, roughly INR 80 per kg higher realization compared to last year. And our garment realization per piece has gone from just INR 5, which is INR 154 compared to last year's INR 149. So I would like to understand, sir, this to compensate for this higher raw material costs, which is cotton, yarn and fabric, what type of price increase we are taking with a new customer or new order? And which are the price which we are expecting to get? I mean how type -- what type of percentage increase in the garment realization should compensate for this higher price of yarn and fabric?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Actually, the cotton -- sorry, garment prices are fixed based on the current yarn prices. Whatever yarn prices prevailing during the time, we have taken it as input costs and the prices are [ arranged there ] and the negotiation will happen. Generally, whatever the yarn price is there is going to be passed on to the customers.

S
Sunil Kothari
analyst

Right. So sir, that is what I'm asking. Currently -- last year, our average realization is INR 154 per piece. So currently, if we are taking order at this current INR 300 yarn and fabric prices, what ...

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, yes. We are seeing the asset price only. The realization is a little less. You would have seen a number of pieces produced during the quarter is higher. That means the garment are all -- plain and regular garment because of the number of pieces is down substantially, so the realizations are less. But if you look at the value of garment exported, is higher. If you look at it, it is about INR 593 crores during this quarter.

S
Sunil Kothari
analyst

That is true, sir. What I'm asking -- trying to understand is per piece of our realization for the whole year is, say, roughly INR 154. So what is the current realization average?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

What is the average? INR 154 per piece is the average realization then. There, it is included but the cotton -- whatever, yarn price increase also has been recorded from that.

S
Sunil Kothari
analyst

I'll take offline this clarification. And one more thing I would like to understand is what type of garment production targets we are keeping for current year? Last year, we produced 124 million. So what type of targets we have for current year?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

So the new plant, we are trying to ramp up within 6 months' time. We hope that we will run the factory with the full capacity during the second half of the year, somewhere around 15% to 30% growth from this level would be possible.

Operator

Next question is from the line of Naushad Chaudhary from Aditya Birla Capital.

N
Naushad Chaudhary; Aditya Birla Capital
analyst

A few clarification. And firstly, 1 question on this garment side, sir. As you indicated, your new capacity, you are planning to ramp it up in the next 6 months. So for the future growth, do we have anything in mind in terms of expansion of garment capacity, if you want to talk about it?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, sir. See, presently, our attention is only to ramp up the new factory because the capacity is a little large, and we have to recruit the employees, train them and all these things. So our full attention is on this as well as the new plant of sugar.

N
Naushad Chaudhary; Aditya Birla Capital
analyst

Okay. So in terms of employee availability, are we comfortable in terms of the target which we had to have 5,000 people, I think, if I'm right to be needed for the new capacity -- new garment capacity? So are we comfortable in terms of getting those number of people to the factory?

Operator

Sir, can you hear us?

[Technical Difficulty]

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. We have the line for the management reconnected. We'll move to the next question. The next question is from the line of Manish Ostwal from Nirmal Bang.

M
Manish Ostwal
analyst

My question is on the demand scenario, given the geopolitical issues and the rising input price and the end product price inflation environment in the global economy. Recently, we saw The Gap announce their results and they cut their guidance. So can you comment about the demand scenario whether that has deteriorated significantly compared to the quarter gone by? And what is your outlook for the FY '23 in terms of growth?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

[indiscernible] If you look at the demand for textile products, it is continually expected to be good only because the international players like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the other small players are all facing problems who are manufacturing garments and yarn. These people are facing problems. Because of that, the Indian position has improved substantially. So the demand is expected to be good in the coming year also. And the order portion is good. We are in the middle of the next season. We have an order book of about INR 900 crores. We are confident that it will continue. And the yarn, even though the yarn price is at a higher level, the consumption is good, and there is no [ start of a start ] -- and we continue to sell the goods however we can.

M
Manish Ostwal
analyst

And we'll be able to protect our margin in this environment, sir?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, normal margins are protected. We used to have a margin of about 18% to 19% in [ this ] -- on the fabric segment, we are maintaining it. And the garment, this is about 23% [indiscernible].

M
Manish Ostwal
analyst

And lastly, 1 small data point. CapEx guidance for FY 2023?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

For this, we have dedicated only the maintenance CapEx of about INR 150 crores. We are not seeing any -- we have not decided any further capital expenditure for the year. Once we decide, we will inform to [ agent ].

M
Manish Ostwal
analyst

INR 130 crores, right?

Operator

Sorry to interrupt you. There's a lot of disturbance coming from your line. May I request move to the handset?

M
Manish Ostwal
analyst

Is this better?

Operator

No. There's still a bit of disturbance coming from the line.

M
Manish Ostwal
analyst

Okay. I'll come back again.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Bharat Chhoda from ICICI Securities.

B
Bharat Chhoda
analyst

Could you just provide the value breakup for this yarn and fabric in the current quarter?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, you want the value?

B
Bharat Chhoda
analyst

Yes.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yarn is INR 489 crores. Fabric is INR 86 crores.

B
Bharat Chhoda
analyst

INR 86 crores. Okay. And sir, the volumes that have been like -- if you look at the yarn volumes, they appear to be lower. So is it because of the demand coming down? Or have you been using more of captive for our garmenting capacity? What has been the reason for the yarn volumes sales to be lower?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Sir, yarn and fabric together only -- it is -- actually, sir, our captive consumption also has gone up substantially because of the -- our own consumption. And if you look at it together, it is more or less same with the last year.

B
Bharat Chhoda
analyst

Okay. And sir, this yarn and fabric that you gave, that was for the quarter, right? INR 489 crores and INR 86 crores?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, for the quarter. Yes, yes.

B
Bharat Chhoda
analyst

And for the full year, what would be that number?

P
P. Murugappan
executive

Full year yarn and fabric, yarn is INR 2,033 crores.

B
Bharat Chhoda
analyst

INR 2,033 crores, yes.

P
P. Murugappan
executive

Fabric is INR 722 crores.

B
Bharat Chhoda
analyst

7?

P
P. Murugappan
executive

INR 722 crores.

B
Bharat Chhoda
analyst

INR 722 crores.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Gowthamprabhu from Blue Lotus Capital.

G
Gowthamprabhu Velumani;Blue Lotus Capital
analyst

Hello? Can you hear me, sir? Thank you for taking my questions. [Indiscernible]

Operator

Can I request you to be louder, please?

G
Gowthamprabhu Velumani;Blue Lotus Capital
analyst

Yes. Congratulations for [ jubilous ] performance for this year, financial year...

Operator

Sorry to interrupt you once again but your audio is not clear. Can I request you to speak through the handset?

G
Gowthamprabhu Velumani;Blue Lotus Capital
analyst

Yes. Right now, I'm speaking through the handset only, is it clear now?

Operator

Yes.

G
Gowthamprabhu Velumani;Blue Lotus Capital
analyst

Sir, may I know what percentage of the revenue comes from manmade fibers or synthetic fibers? And what is your next financial year's revenue breakup from manmade fibers? And do you see any excellent opportunity for [ mmf ] for the next financial year?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, we are [indiscernible] some small portion of manmade fiber. That will be somewhere around 5% to 10% in the yarn and fabric segment. We are not totally into manmade fiber-based garments, we are not making. Yarn and fabric, we are doing about 10%.

G
Gowthamprabhu Velumani;Blue Lotus Capital
analyst

Okay. And what is the many opportunities that we're seeing for next financial year -- new opportunities?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Next year also, it is going to be the same manufacturing facility. So we expect it to be in the same level.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Kapil Jagasia from Edelweiss Financial Service.

K
Kapil Jagasia
analyst

Sir, there was a news article regarding this FDA signing up with [ Australia. ] I suppose we have a good 14%, 15% from this region. Like would we be setting up more base over there? How beneficial that could be? Can you just put some color on this?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Sir, the FDA has been signed with Australia [indiscernible]. We hope that it will help us because our share to Australia is about 50%. So this will enable us to increase the trade with Australia.

K
Kapil Jagasia
analyst

Okay. And in terms of realization, how -- like if we compare that with Europe and U.S., the realization or the order shipment that would be higher, how it would be comparable to those regions?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Realization is more or less [ they are ] into this basic and regular garment segment. The realization of it more or less equal in all the zones, like Europe, U.S., Australia and Asia.

K
Kapil Jagasia
analyst

Okay. Okay. And sir, regarding this Dubai [ FDA, ] are we looking to set up any base there? Any increase...

P
P. Nataraj
executive

We will be exporting to Dubai. We are not planning to set up a base there.

K
Kapil Jagasia
analyst

Okay. Okay. Okay. And sir, could you just help me with your segmental margins for the quarter? Yarn, garment, sugar and ethanol.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yarn and fabric is 18%; garment, 23%; sugar, 28%.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Alpesh Thacker from Antique Stock Broking Limited.

A
Alpesh Thacker
analyst

Congratulations for a good set of numbers, sir. Sir, my question is more from the industry perspective. For the last couple of months, cotton prices have increased significantly, but the yarn spreads have come down, indicating that the yarn prices are not moving in sync with the cotton price. So what are your take? So is it industry is not able to pass on the yarn pricing -- cotton price increase to the end consumer? And the second is, how is the situation for us? Are we able to pass on the full increase in cotton to our consumer -- to our clients? So that is my first question.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

So as you can see, last 1 year, when the cotton prices increases, yarn price also moved even a little higher than the cotton prices. Suppose 6 months before if you see that, cotton price has gone up, say, 30%, the yarn price increase to 40% so like that. So after a certain period, you see this cotton price has continued to move up, whereas [ certain ] say the yarn price was it was increasing. Till date, yarn price was increasing, but compared to cotton, it has slowed down.

So almost, as on today, as we see, we have come into the old -- that is 2 years back, what was the parity. That we can say in the last 1.5 years, the 1.5 years to 2 years, the margin we haven't been able to get a better margin than the regular in the last 1.5 years. So the present situation is almost it becomes a normal business cycle because of the cotton price increase is a little higher than the yarn price in the last 3, 4 months.

So -- but when you say -- when you take only the last 3 months, if you see that the cotton price has gone up [ beyond ] the yarn price. But before this, if you see that the yarn price was much higher than the cotton price. So on an average, we are in the back to the square, same level now. So this time, the next 6 months is crucial because the season starts -- cotton season starts by October. So next 6 months, you know how -- where the cotton price will stand. So that is only then everyone is eagerly looking after. So this is the current question.

A
Alpesh Thacker
analyst

Got it. Thanks for the clarification.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Sakshi Goenka from Alchemy Capital.

S
Sakshi Goenka;Alchemy Capital
analyst

Congratulations on a good set of numbers. Sorry, I missed your segmenting margins, if you could repeat it again.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yarn and fabric 18%, garment 23%, sugar 28%.

S
Sakshi Goenka;Alchemy Capital
analyst

So 23%?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

28%.

S
Sakshi Goenka;Alchemy Capital
analyst

28%. Okay, good, sir.

Operator

Next question is from the line of Akshay Chheda from Canara Robeco Mutual Fund.

A
Akshay Chheda;Canara Robeco
analyst

My first question is on this order book.

Operator

Sorry, you're not audible. Can I request you to speak louder?

A
Akshay Chheda;Canara Robeco
analyst

Hello? Am I audible now?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

[ I can hear you there ].

A
Akshay Chheda;Canara Robeco
analyst

Just on this order book, so now currently ...

P
P. Nataraj
executive

It's about INR 900 crores as of now.

A
Akshay Chheda;Canara Robeco
analyst

So how do you see the demand? Because at least it has softened a little because in the previous quarter, we were at INR 1,000 crores and now we are at INR 900 crores. So how do you see the overall demand? I mean how should we look at it? Because especially when we are in the process to ramp up the capacity. So shouldn't our order book expand quarter-on-quarter? So that was my first question.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Sir, actually, order book is a 2-cycle process. Generally, June, July, August we'll get the first set of orders. And the second set of orders we used to get it in some time January, February, March. So during this time, order book would be higher. Now we are in the next year, we are approaching the next cycle. So during this cycle, the order book is a little lower only. Actually, if you look at it, historically it is the highest order book in March.

A
Akshay Chheda;Canara Robeco
analyst

Okay. And sir, what was the garment margin? Is it 25%?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Correct.

A
Akshay Chheda;Canara Robeco
analyst

So any reason here why the garment margins have come softer, because in the last quarter, we were guiding for a 29%, and that's what we have delivered. But now we are at 25%. So how should we see the stable margins in this business going forward?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Stable margins will be somewhere around 23% to 25% kind of a margin is sustainable in this garment business.

A
Akshay Chheda;Canara Robeco
analyst

Okay. Okay. Okay. And sir, any reason for the softness from 29% to 25%?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

It is because of the higher prices, the yarn prices in the last quarter yielded more profit. This quarter, more or less, the yarn prices also stabilized so demand is also in the normal levels.

Operator

Next question is from the line of Kashyap Javeri from Emkay Investment Managers.

K
Kashyap Javeri
analyst

Am I audible ?

Operator

Yes, sir, you are audible.

K
Kashyap Javeri
analyst

Sir, my question is, can you help me with the capacities across businesses that would be available for FY '23, let's say in terms of yarn, fabric, garment, sugar and ethanol.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yarn is 1 lakh tonne, fabric 40,000 tonnes, garment 157 million?

K
Kashyap Javeri
analyst

Including the new expansion?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes including the new expansion. Sugar 20,000 TCD.

K
Kashyap Javeri
analyst

And ethanol?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Ethanol 3,50,000 liters.

K
Kashyap Javeri
analyst

3 lakh?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

50,000 liters per day.

K
Kashyap Javeri
analyst

Okay. Out of 100,000 tonnes of yarn and 4000 tonnes of fabric, how much would be internal use?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yarn will be 40% goes to fabric. Out of the fabric, we will consume about 50 percentage to our own consumption.

K
Kashyap Javeri
analyst

Okay. And whatever we use in garment, more or less, we are in-sourcing only, right?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

What?

K
Kashyap Javeri
analyst

In terms of our [ in ] manufacturing, how much do we buy from outside in terms of fabric?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Mostly our fabric only. There is no outside buying.

K
Kashyap Javeri
analyst

Okay. Okay. And I understand that today, the yarn to cotton -- sorry, cotton to yarn, can you help me in terms of, let's say, margins per kg cotton to yarn, what are the margins per kg?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Per kg margins is difficult because various [ cones ] we are manufacturing for each [ cone ] each will have a different margin.

Operator

The next question is from the line of [indiscernible] Share and Stock Broking.

U
Unknown Analyst

Congratulations for the great set of number. I just wanted to know about the cotton scenario of India, like how the arrivals looks like? And is there any holding of the inventory by the stockist or some big guys or how the basically cotton arrival will look like for the month of May and June, actually.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Sir, now you see the cotton season almost over. So it starts by October and end by March. And whatever the stocks available only coming into the market and because of the high price, there will be some holding back of the stocks from all the community from, say, like from farmers, ginners, as well as traders and something with the mills also. So we hope that there is some stock, but the data is not clear whether the stock is available of enough quantity to meet the demand for the rest of the period, so until October. So that is only the big question, even the official numbers also are not able to get it clearly. And say, everyone, every segment or even the various associations also collecting datas, but various associations' data are also not equal. So we are only getting different numbers. The reason is that in India, we don't have the correct information or the correct data. So that is a big issue.

In fact, this is also one -- this is a very negative feedback to fuel the price hike. So this generally happens in India. And because of this year, only the thing never has happened in the last 10, 15 years are the imposing the import duty for cotton. Only last year, the cotton duty was 10% plus 1% surcharge, total 11% duty imposed on cotton. So otherwise, every year, whenever the cotton shortage or during off-season, mills normally go for imports. And this year, mills are not able to import because of the duty, which is 11% if we add with the cost, it will be very high.

So that's why everyone has to buy only the domestic market. So this added the fuel to the cotton price. So as of today, some people say that cotton is available. Some people they say that cotton may not be available during -- I mean at the end of the season, maybe last 1 month or 1.5 months or like that. So this is only a market information or rumor or something like, and it's difficult to predict. And however, now the government has removed the duty, though the price is high, the other door is open. So even at a higher price, mills can import. So this is a very big advantage. So at the end of the season, if cotton is not available, then we can go for import. So this is a question.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Biplab Debbarma from Antique Stock Broking.

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

Sir, my question is on the margin. So can we say that the margins that we see -- that we saw, the heightened margins in the last 2, 3 quarters. Now the margins going forward would be back to normal, like the yarn would be 17%, 18%, garment would be around 25% and sugar is around 25%. Can you say that?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, you are right.

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

Okay, so we are back to normal? Okay, fine. That is. Second question is on the -- just clarification. Did you say that the CapEx that we INR 750 crores CapEx, there is some cost escalation and total cost in fact is INR 900 crores?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Not because of that, [ just that ] we have done some modernization in the plant, like -- but we have done originally planned mission was a little modernized and some modification has been done in the plant that is why INR 100 crore increase in the project cost.

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

[ Okay. And of that price increase ]...

Operator

Sir, sorry, your voice is breaking.

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

In FY '23, since things are back to normal in terms of margin, and we have also capacity fully operational, what would be the revenue guidance for -- and PAT guidance for FY '23, sir, just ballpark number?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, we are looking at a growth of about 15% to 20%.

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

In revenue?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, revenue.

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

And PAT?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

PAT, we have to wait because the cotton prices are volatile, we have to wait for some time to ascertain. We hope that the things will be good, but we could not be able to give the ...

B
Biplab Debbarma
analyst

So the margins could go down or up depending on the cotton prices?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Go down. Up also it's possible, both the sides is possible, but to say for certain, we will wait for it.

Operator

Next question is from the line of [ Apurva from PGIM ] India Mutual Fund.

U
Unknown Analyst

Sorry, there was some disturbance on my side on my line. Just wanted to -- I don't know whether you've answered this, how much stock of cotton are we holding in terms of, say, a number of months going ahead? And what would be the ...

P
P. Nataraj
executive

About 3 months' stock we are holding.

U
Unknown Analyst

And average pricing, are you disclosing that amount?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Somewhere around INR 80,000 to INR 85,000.

U
Unknown Analyst

Okay, INR 80,000 to INR 85,000, okay. And so in terms of -- I think yarn prices you mentioned they have come back, right? So are we seeing a spread of around INR 120 to INR 130 as of now, at least, for the cotton spread?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes. The EBITDA margin is about 17%, the gross margin would be a little higher, INR 120 would be there.

U
Unknown Analyst

Okay. Okay. You highlighted. In terms of -- again, coming back to CapEx, already you said now it will be more or less and you will be deciding in the coming year, but any initial thoughts on where would this be, because you would have that kind of free cash flow. So any [ look ] around that?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

CapEx that we are planning, we continue to expand in garments only. That is our plan. So that's why we told that already we have 2 projects, the almost the project is completed, but ramping up as well as in the sugar also like some other work is also being the first season, we have to set right everything in a proper way so that our teams are fully engaged in this all the technical team. So that's why I call that maybe after 6 months, we will think of for the next project. So here, next project will be, expansion will be in the garments.

U
Unknown Analyst

Garments only, fine. And now just to -- again, just to summarize because I couldn't get it properly, just the demand side is not -- there is not a problem on that since you are expecting a 15% to 20%. [It is whether ] Am I audible?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Sir, we would not be able to hear you.

U
Unknown Analyst

Am I audible now?

Operator

Better than before.

U
Unknown Analyst

So just I couldn't hear it properly. Just summarizing in terms of demand side, you don't see challenge? It is more on the raw material in the cotton pricing side, right? But just what you have mentioned.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Abhishek Nigam from B&K Securities.

A
Abhishek Nigam
analyst

Sir, just 2 questions from me. One, when should we expect full ramp up of new [ garment ] capacity? Should we expect around December or so?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, somewhere in third quarter of this year.

A
Abhishek Nigam
analyst

Okay. Okay. And have there been any negotiations or attempts to just speak to the clients to go in for, say, a 3-month price hike instead of, I think, a 6-month [ there have been ] now.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Sir, in this ongoing process, generally, we've been discussed with the client regularly. And some of the new orders, whatever they place, repeat order and all, they will give the increase in the prices. Generally, we will not negotiate for the price increase during the order period. They give order for 6 months, we will not negotiate to take it. Because since ours is a fully integrated unit, we allocate the cotton for the purpose at that price.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Akshay Kothari from Envision Capital.

A
Akshay Kothari;Envision Capital
analyst

Am I audible?

Operator

Yes, sir.

A
Akshay Kothari;Envision Capital
analyst

So can you just brief about the FDA opportunities regarding what -- because I can see it in your investor presentation as well. So how are we capitalizing on these opportunities?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

[ so ] right now the government has done for -- with UAE and Australia and some discussions going on with U.K. And see, once these things have happened, and definitely, there's a good opportunity especially for the garment industry. So we have to wait and see that when are these -- all these things are [ happening ] even Australia, already signed, and UAE has also signed and still we have to wait until the -- both the Parliament have to approve this FDA. And definitely, and particularly K.P.R., we are also in the considerable export is happening to Australian market. And definitely, it will be a very, a boost for the K.P.R. in the apparel division. So we are very eagerly waiting for this to happen.

A
Akshay Kothari;Envision Capital
analyst

Okay. Okay. And 1 more. So your inventory has gone up. So is it like the nature of industry or what is it?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Inventory basically gone up because of price increase, the cotton price increase.

Operator

Next question is from the line of [ Deben Sed ] from [ Bolen ] Capital.

U
Unknown Analyst

So I'm trying to reconcile 2 numbers in your PL for the full year, sir, with the business developments and metrics that have played out. So one is, of course, that I've been tracking your HR policies and capabilities for close to a decade and actually more now. And they rank right up there at the top in the textile industry, and we've heard plenty about them and have had the opportunity to check them out as well. Now this particular year, total employee expenses have risen by a mere some 12.5%, 13%, whereas the -- I think the most labor-intensive part of your business, which is garments, has seen 130%, 35% increase in volumes. So how do I reconcile this hardly 12%, 13% kind of change with a huge jump in garments? Is it that there is more machinery/automation/whatever? Is that the way to see it? Or is there a point that I'm missing here?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Sir, I mean, the revenue has jumped because of the raw material price increase. So the percentage of the expenses is showing a little bit late. If you look at the actual salary expenditure, it is higher.

U
Unknown Analyst

So actually, I'm looking at the actual numbers, sir, not the percentage to revenues, it's INR 393.68 crores last full year, and it is just INR 445.45 crores this year. Now that's about a 12%, 13% absolute increase. And I'm comparing that with the garment sales in terms of number of garments, not even value, which I suppose has got escalated because of the underlying garment price increase, which has gone from 928 -- 93 million garments to about 120-odd million garments, right?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

The garment production, sir, it is not a standard garment. Garment is different from one period to another period. If it is the plain garment, number of garments would go up. If it is a printed garment or embroidery garment, the number of pieces will go down. That will not be -- you cannot use it as a yardstick for this purpose. Basically, there is no much effort employee increase during the year. We have entered the new countries starting devoting people on a very small number of people for the new project.

U
Unknown Analyst

Okay. So is it fair to assume or interpret this as the fact that your garment mix this year was perhaps less labor-intensive than last year?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Not like that. Labor intensive only, but in the garment -- if you look at style of the garment is different this year.

U
Unknown Analyst

Yes, so maybe it consumed lesser labor, okay. And the second number, which I was trying to reconcile in the PL was the actually -- again, in absolute numbers, your depreciation provision for the year has fallen in a year where you have aggressively invested in capacity. So is there a change in policy or something here?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Both the projects were completed during the month of March only. So the depreciation provided [ proportionately ]. And also some of the machineries have completed their useful life, 10 years has grown because of that. Next year, the depreciation will go up because the full year utilization will come.

Operator

Next question is from the line of Naushad Chaudhary from Aditya Birla Capital.

N
Naushad Chaudhary; Aditya Birla Capital
analyst

Just a clarification on the order book side, sir, as sequentially, it has slightly gone down from INR 1,000 crores run rate to INR 900 crores. So is this something which is a peak run rate given the existing capacity we have? Or is there any scope for an order book to increase on the existing capacity?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

The order cycle is, in a year is 2x. So once in 6 months, we will get the order. So order period is somewhere in June, we will get -- the June, July will get the first order. And again, we will get the second order sometime in January, February. It is the middle of the season now. So the order book would be a little lesser only. If you look at it, it is a historically higher order book during March. So the order book will be -- so order book cycle and the financial year is a little different.

N
Naushad Chaudhary; Aditya Birla Capital
analyst

Okay. Understood. Secondly, on the balance sheet side, sir, as one of the participants has asked in terms of inventory days, which have gone up. If I look at the history also in last 2, 3 years, it has gone up meaningfully. And the reason you shared, the raw material prices. Is there any other piece of it apart from the raw material prices?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

There will be some increase in stocks in this subdivision also because we have commissioned for production during the year in the new plant. So that also resulted in a little higher inventory.

N
Naushad Chaudhary; Aditya Birla Capital
analyst

Historically, it used to be between 75 to 85 days. Do you think we can -- once things get normalized, we can go back to those run rate? And as the duty also has been -- the import duty on the cotton has been removed, that way we can have a lesser inventory and if required, we can have import of that. Will these points help us to reduce our inventory days?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, definitely it will help us because when there is no import duty, we [ push ] to buy more cotton and store it. Even though we are having premiums [ sharpen ] the prices are very high because of -- if you compare to the last year, it is more or less double the price. So the inventory costs have gone up substantially. That's 1 thing. Second is in the consolidated level, the inventory is fair because the sugar also. Sugar also contributed to a certain extent. Because sugar, you cannot sell it. It is a regulatory product. We can sell based on the government release order only. So whatever we produce, it will be laying in the stock only.

N
Naushad Chaudhary; Aditya Birla Capital
analyst

Okay. And lastly, I'm sorry if I missed this point, the recent greenfield expansion of sugar and ethanol, by when we see the full capacity utilization?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Sir, for first quarter, we will start the plan maybe by end of this quarter, we can see the full production.

N
Naushad Chaudhary; Aditya Birla Capital
analyst

Okay. FY '23, we'll see the full benefit of this?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Yes, yes, more or less, about 90 percentage we can see.

N
Naushad Chaudhary; Aditya Birla Capital
analyst

With a 25% plus kind of EBITDA margin?

P
P. Nataraj
executive

We are looking at 25% plus kind of EBITDA margin for the sugar business for the year 2022, '23. We hope that we can achieve it.

Operator

I now hand the conference over to Abhishek Nigam for closing comments.

A
Abhishek Nigam
analyst

On behalf of B&K Securities, that concludes this conference, and thank you so much for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines.

Operator

Thank you very much. On behalf of Batlivala & Karani Securities India Private Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

Excuse me?

Operator

Yes, sir.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

There will be management ...

Operator

Sure, sir. Please go ahead.

P
P. Nataraj
executive

So the improved market dynamics [ participant ] expectation from the concluded FDAs with the UAE and Australia is a good news for the Indian apparel industry. We would like to thank all the stakeholders for their continued support, and we expect the support from all stakeholders for the coming years also. And once again, I thank you all for attending this conference call. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you very much.

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