JK Lakshmi's Q3 net up 31%

Company's profit is higher primarily because of two reasons - higher sales and net sales realisation

JK Lakshmi Cement today reported a 31% rise in net profit for October-December quarter at Rs 18.48 crore on higher sales and net sales realisation.

The company, which has over nine million tonnes per annum cement-making capacity, had clocked Rs 14.09 crore net profit in the same quarter last fiscal, it said in a release.

"The profit is higher primarily because of two reasons - higher sales and net sales realisation. While the sales volume were up by 6%, NSR was up by around 4% over the same quarter last fiscal," said Shailendra Chouksey, Whole -time Director of the company.

Besides, he said the company has, as a matter of abundant caution, provided Rs 10 crore as an exceptional item towards the demand notice of sales tax department, though it believes that it has a strong case and matter would be decided in its favour.

Revenue of the company rose to Rs 618 crore from Rs 560 crore a year earlier buoyed by a 6% rise in sales volume. Production too grew by 6% during the period.

However, total expenses rose to Rs 509 crore from Rs 474 crore as cost was impacted during the quarter due to increase in royalty of limestone and coal prices.

For the nine-month period, buoyed by higher volume and better realisation, company's turnover went up by 22% to Rs 1,925 crore from Rs 1,572 crore.

JK Lakshmi said trial runs of the first phase of its 2.7 million tonnes greenfield cement plant at Durg in Chhattisgarh has commenced. The first phase is expected to be commissioned next month, it said.