Home > Money > Report

GRM fall hurts

Pallavi Pengonda / DNA
Friday, October 30, 2009 1:35 IST
Email Email
Print Print
Share Share

Mumbai: The Q2 results of Reliance Industries (RIL) are in line with street estimates. Its net profit declined by 6.4% on a year-on-year basis to Rs 3,852 crore despite a 315.8% increase in other income to Rs 628 crore driven by higher interest income due to higher cash and cash equivalents. This is the fourth continuous quarter that the company reported a fall in quarterly profit.


Profitability was impacted on account of 51.4% decline in the earnings before interest and tax (ebit) of the refining & marketing business to Rs 1,347 crore. This was mainly because of the decline in gross refining margins (GRMs) to $6 per barrel from $13.4 per barrel last year. GRMs across the world have been under pressure due to overcapacity and fall in demand. Higher depreciation in the oil & gas and refining & marketing business resulted in a 91.5% increase in overall depreciation cost, which was above market expectations.

Refining revenues increased by 8.9% and formed 70.7% of the total revenues.

Petrochemicals revenues fell by 14.2% and accounted for 23.8% of total revenues but ebit increased by 15.7% and formed 45.9% of total ebit. This was because the industry was operating on low level of inventory, resulting in higher domestic realisations. Revenues from the oil & gas business increased by 57.5% sequentially led by higher production from KGD6 basin and accounted for 5.2% of the total revenues. However, ebit margins declined by 1233 basis points to 41.74%. Decline in ebit margins could be because of higher depreciation.

Going forward, rupee appreciation and pressure on GRMs should weigh on the stock, currently trading at Rs 2003.85.

Copyright permission mandatory to republish this article.
For reprint rights click here
digg reddit google Facebook MySpace delicious

Post your comment
Getting jiggy with it
Almost everyone wore white for designer Hemant Trivedi's birthday party and that included Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who made a special appearance for her old friend and guru.
Adventurous women!
The Cosmopolitan Fun Fearless Female awards saw a galaxy of stars descend on the venue to be awarded in various categories.

Get daily news in your inbox and read it at your convenience.

D