Although RPL's exports to US are lower than the originally envisaged 30-40%, they should be significantly higher than
7% in FY08. This is because only 10% of RIL's product mix is gasoline against 30% originally planned.
However, RPL has better refining margins that RIL's margin of US $15/bbl. This could be higher due to more stringent
specifications than Indian buyers and the heavier grade crude processed implying lower feedstock cost.
During FY09, production will be gradually increased to reach 85% capacity of 5,80,000 BPD according to some analysts
tracking RPL.
Its full commissioning will beat the competition from other refineries being set up in West Asia and China as they are
delayed by the rising costs of steel and cement.
At the same time, the margins of refineries across the world have begun to fall as the difference between the prices of
petroleum products and crude oil is narrow and the demand for petroleum products is weak especially in USA and
Western Europe, the two largest consumers due to high fuel prices and slow economic growth. This slowdown in
demand may not spare RPL.
However, Mr. Mukesh Ambani, managing director of RPL, expects that the prospects for the refining sector to remain
encouraging because of the robust demand, tight product supplies and the slow growth of new capacities dogging an
already stretched refining system.
After full commissioning, Reliance's two Jamnagar units (one of RIL and one of RPL) will be the world's largest single-
location refining facility. The entire refinery complex will have a total processing capacity of 12,40,000 BPD.
The profits of RPL will depend mainly on two factors viz. global crude oil prices and fuel prices. As per an optimistic
view, RPL will have GRM (Gross Refining Margin) of over $14/15, the best it ever achieved last quarter.
Analysts expect RPL to achieve sales of Rs.13,000 cr. during FY09 with net profit of Rs.1,650 cr. and an EPS of Rs.3.66.
During FY10, sales would go up to Rs.65,000 cr. with net profit increasing to Rs.9,400 cr. and the EPS would be Rs.20.9.
The shares of RPL are traded at Rs.147, discounting its estimated FY10 EPS of Rs.20.9 by 7.2 times. One can buy the shares
at declines for long-term gains. The 52-week high/low of the share has been Rs.295/109.
******
The share of Sathavahana Ispat Ltd. (Code: 526093) (Rs.39.25) is recommended for decent gains in the long-term. Its
expansion will lift its earnings significantly in coming years.
Incorporated in 1989, SIL manufactures pig iron through the mini-blast furnace route with an installed capacity of
1,20,000 TPA. Since then, its capacity has been hiked to 2,10,000 TPA. It is spearheaded by Mr. K. Thanu Pillai as
Chairman and Mr. A. S. Rao as Executive Vice-Chairman. SIL operates in the Iron & Steel industry, which is considered as
core sector.
SIL's pig iron manufacturing capacity is 2,10,000 TPA and 3,00,000 TPA for metallurgical coke. Its coke plant commenced
commercial production in March 2007 and its 30 MW co-generation power plant in Bellary district of Karnataka was
commissioned on 31 July 2008. It is now enhancing its coke capacity to 4.5 lakh TPA and has signed a PPA (power
purchase agreement) worth Rs.3.25 cr.
During FY08, SIL posted 43% higher sales of Rs.358 cr. and earned 135% higher net profit of Rs.33 cr. the EPS was Rs.10.4
on its enlarged equity of Rs.31.8 cr. With reserves of Rs.121 cr., the book value of its share works out to Rs.48.
During Q1FY09, operating profit margin (OPM) has moved up to 30.5% from 17.8% and net profit margin (NPM) to 15.1%
from 4.6%. During FY08, OPM & NPM shot up to 23.3% and 9.2% from 14.6% and 5.6% respectively in FY07.
SIL issued 15.4% stake i.e. 49 lakh shares to Stemcor Holdings, a strategic investor, at a price of Rs.60 per share. Stemcor is
a $6 billion leading consultancy firm, which provides marketing, finance and logistic services to the steel industry. SIL
had also issued 6.25 lakh shares and 15.70 lakh warrants to the promoters at Rs.60 per share.
The funds raised are being utilised to meet the aforesaid coke capacity expansion and its 10 MW power plant. The total
capex for FY08 and FY09 is Rs.176 cr., which is expected to save SIL more than Rs.20 cr. in FY10. Market sources maintain
that the company would soon be allotted iron ore mines in Karnataka.
Pig Iron is the basic raw material used by the Engineering, Construction, Foundry and Capital Goods industries. With
significant growth in the main user industries like Automobiles, Construction, Foundries the demand for Iron & Steel has
increased considerably.
Metallurgical coke is the key input for iron making and given its own production of metallurgical coke, SIL has integrated
itself backward for this key input material. The surplus coke is sold in the market.
As SIL's pig iron enjoys brand value and it is one of the low cost producers of pig iron, there is an opportunity for
increasing the market share. The simultaneous modernisation of its plant will enhance efficiency, reduce process costs
and increase volumes.
There was robust growth in the global demand for Iron & Steel driven mainly by the Chinese appetite for steel for the
Olympics followed by USA and the European Union's demand push by virtue of the resurgence in their economies.
Given the capacity expansions nationwide, India is expected to become the second largest steel producer after China by
2015-16 from the fifth largest steel producer with a steel production of 55.27 million tonnes. Indian steel consumption also