JSW Steel posts three-fold jump in profit, lines up capacity expansion

Company sold 7.46 million tonnes of steel during the quarter, while output was at an all-time high of 7.27 million tonnes.

The country's largest steel-maker by capacity also approved adding another 5 million tonnes of capacity at its facility in Utkal in Odisha for an investment of ₹16,150 crore. The company also approved several other projects, including capacity expansion at JSW JFE Steel.

It sold 7.46 million tonnes of steel during the quarter, while output was at an all-time high of 7.27 million tonnes. This lifted the revenue from operations higher by 21% on year to ₹54,486 crore. Adjusted for the deconsolidation of Bhushan Power earlier this year, the topline was 31% higher.

Reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization rose 58% on year to ₹10,120 crore, while adjusted Ebitda was 39% higher year-on-year at ₹9,941 crore. The adjusted profitability numbers exclude foreign exchange gains or losses on the company's long-term borrowings, net of intercompany receivables.

Adjusted Ebitda margins improved to 18.3% from 17.2% earlier, while the adjusted Ebitda made on each tonne of steel rose 24% on year to ₹13,329.

JSW Steel saw a significant 34% drop in finance costs to ₹1,602 crore, while depreciation and amortization expenses were down by 14% to ₹2,200 crore.

The steel-maker reported its earnings during market hours on Friday, and its shares closed at ₹1,187.00 on the BSE, down 2.6% from the previous close.

Its consolidated net debt is down to ₹44,482 at the end of the September quarter as compared to ₹46,157 crore at the end of June. Net debt to equity ratio at the end of the quarter stood at 0.39 times, down from 0.42 times at the end of the June quarter, while the net debt to Ebitda ratio stood at 1.28 times, down from 1.46 times.

JSW Steel has retained its guidance of spending ₹22,000-₹24,000 on capital expenditure this year, and has spent ₹11,136 crore in the first half of the year, with ₹6,266 crore spent in the September quarter itself.