Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited

Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited

1,454.15
INR
+14.85
(+1.03%)
229.25EPS
5.04P/E
172.14BMarket Cap
Feb 14Next Earn

Q4 FY2026 · Earnings Call TranscriptApril 24, 2026

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited Q4 FY26 earnings conference call hosted by Elara Securities. As a reminder, all participant lines will be in the listen-only mode, and there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions after the presentation concludes.

Should you need assistance during the conference call, please signal an operator by pressing star, then zero on your touchtone phone. Please note that this conference is being recorded.

I now hand the conference over to Mr. Gagan Dixit from Elara Securities.

Thank you, and over to you, sir.

Gagan Dixit

Thank you.

Operator

Sir, please go ahead.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Hello.

Gagan Dixit

Yeah. Thank you.

A very warm welcome to everyone to discuss Chennai Petroleum Q4 FY26 results. It is our pleasure to be able to bring to you the management of Chennai Petroleum led by Shri Rohit Kumar Agrawala, Director Finance, and other senior executives of the company.

With these words, I would now hand over conference to the Chennai Petroleum management. Over to you, sir.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Thank you. Good afternoon everyone.

I am Rohit Agrawala, Director Finance, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited, and with me are my colleagues Mr. Anil Sahni, CGM Technical Services; Mr.

Dhanraj, CGM Finance; Mr. Rajkumar, CGM Technical, and they are part of this investor conference.

They'll be happy to reply to any of your specific queries. Let me thank you again for joining this call today.

On behalf of CPCL team, I welcome you all to this post quarter four result concall. Before we begin, I would like to mention that some of the statements that we will be making during this concall are based on our assessment of the matter, and we believe that these statements are reasonable.

However, the results will be different depending on the number of events and uncertainties. Further, this concall is on Q4 annual results, and we'll be limiting our discussion on the results.

Any other queries shall be taken separately by our team. Our results of quarter four 2025-26 are with you now for some, a few hours.

I hope some of you would have analyzed them, and if you have any specific query on that, we'll take up this during the conference call. Again, to give my brief on the matter, our refineries continued its stellar performance on both physical and financial parameters during this quarter and the financial year, full financial year 2025-26.

Let me start with the physical performance. CPCL achieved a higher, highest-ever crude throughput of 11.71 MMT, million metric tonne, which which equivalents to 112% of installed capacity, breaking records of our previous best of 11.64 MMT achieved in financial year 2023-24.

In quarter four of the current financial year, CPCL achieved a crude throughput of 2.93 MMT, which is also 111% of installed capacity. This reflects our agility to continue performing at the highest level, tackling global challenges.

The highest-ever throughput has been achieved despite a planned shutdown of one of our three crude units for about a month during the year. CPCL achieved the best-ever fuel and loss of 7.73%, best MBN of 69.8, and best EII of 84 in the current financial year '25-26, surpassing our previous best records achieved in the last financial year driven by the effective implementation of energy conservation initiatives and significantly improved operational reliability.

CPCL concluded the financial year on a high note, achieving the highest-ever production levels of 5.139 MMT for diesel, HSD, and 1.318 MMT of petrol, that is MS, an impressive testament of the refinery's outstanding operational performance. Further, highest-ever distillate yield of 79.1%, beating our previous record of 77.6% set in 2019-20, was also achieved during this year only.

CPCL achieved highest-ever LPG production of 447 TMT, overcoming previous record of 404 set in 2023-24. With global uncertainties affecting the availability of LPG all over the world, CPCL is happy to step up the requirement when the nation needed it.

This once again reiterate our unwavering commitment to serve the nation and increase our efficiencies. CPCL achieved the highest-ever annual production and dispatch of value-added niche products like LS naphtha, pharma grade hexane, MTO, all these again have reached, peak production and dispatches.

CPCL again had a good RLNG consumption again, to look forward to economics, to bring in more economics and bringing in more sustainability, and environmental commitments. During the financial year, we processed 52% high sulfur.

Due to our flexible crude sourcing mechanism, we have strategically secured 55% to 60% through long-term agreements, the remaining on short-term basis from diverse sources, allowing us to enhance flexibility and capitalize on price economies irrespective of what situation we are in. Further, we have launched trial runs of two new products.

One is pentane, the other is textile grade MTO. CPCL achieved the quartile one position in seven indices of International Solomon Benchmarking Study, which includes energy intensity and operational availability.

In the country, this was the only second refinery, where, we moved to first quartile in energy parameters. CPCL is committed to develop new schemes on energy efficiency, further fuel and loss reduction, and develop and enhance product of value-added products.

Now I move to financial performance. The gross refining margin, GRM, for financial year 2025-26 was $9.2 per barrel as compared to Singapore benchmark of $5.83 per barrel.

Our current GRMs have been at a premium to Singapore GRM consistently over the past five, six years, mainly on account of continuous optimization of refinery production, product distribution, optimized crude procurement, and efficient handling of processing capabilities. If I move to quarter four, the GRM for quarter four was $13.75 barrel as compared to Singapore benchmark of $8.70 per barrel, which again reiterates that all these efficiencies are constant, continuous, and are being sustained over over each period.

All these have been achieved through optimized crude mix, selection of grades based on benchmark, and then, we have compared the premium discount with respect to our efficiencies that we can arrive out of them. Our leverage position is now stands at 0.18.

Our debt-equity stands at 0.18 at a gross level as compared to 0.39 last year. Again, that, that tells us that our borrowings has subsided significantly, and then for our future projects, the company possesses a significant capacity to borrow and implement profitable schemes.

On a gross basis, the borrowings are ₹1,900 crore, but on a net basis, it is less than ₹1,000 crore, to be precise ₹973 crore. If I take the net borrowings, that hardly is 0.09.

The D/E ratio is only 0.09, less than 0.1. Further, further, the above performance, our disciplined and consistent dividend payment, we also we also take care of the investors, all investors including minority investors.

During the year, for the first time, CPCL paid a interim dividend, and we are happy to announce that in addition to the interim dividend of ₹8 per equity share of ₹10 each, the board has recommended a final dividend of ₹54 per share, taking the total dividend for the year to ₹62 per share, which again is highest-ever. Now I'll move to, future capex and, development program.

During the current year, the capex was ₹856 crore as compared to ₹673 crore in the previous year. Some of the important projects that we will be taking up is Group II, Group III LOBS, for which all approvals are in place, and the project execution has started in full swing.

Even our retail outlet endeavor, for which we had taken 300 licenses, has started, and this year, that is '26-27, we'll see a lot of commissioning out of them. Few more governance issues I'd like to highlight here, and I hope the investors will be happy to note them.

CPCL was on the ESG parameter, CPCL achieved a S&P Global ESG score of 60 for the year 2025 in their yearly Corporate Sustainability Assessment. We achieved this the second highest S&P Global ESG score in oil and gas in India.

This can be seen along with the Solomon Index. From a technical side as well as on a sustainability side, we are striving, and our progress is year on year pretty significant.

All this has also led that all this also led CPCL was conferred the gold shield, award from ICAI on Excellence in Financial Reporting by the institute. This is one of the prestigious reports, prestigious awards by ICAI.

Now with all this, I would like to say the uncertainties due to logistical constraint, volatility of crude oil prices do pose do pose challenges. While these are broader factors that may drive volatility, we remain at CPCL focused on things we can control, and that is our operating and that is operating our refinery efficiently in a safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible manner, and continue to focus on key metrics of controlling the operating cost as well as maintaining capital discipline by adhering to optimum return on value-added and growth projects, and thereby honoring our commitment to create long-term value for our shareholders.

To summarize, we continue to deliver resilient operational and financial performance, and see the momentum to continue in the new financial year as well. Thank you all of you once again, and we are now open for questions.

Operator

Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session.

Anyone who wishes to ask question may press star and one on their touchtone telephone. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press star and two.

Participants are requested to use handset while asking a question. Ladies and gentlemen, we'll wait for a moment while the question queue assembles.

The first line is from Yogesh Patil from Dolat Capital. Please go ahead.

Yogesh Patil

Thanks for taking my question, sir, and congratulations for the good set of numbers. Sir, the question is related to the challenges CPCL is facing at the time of purchasing the real barrels or the physical barrels from the international market, that's one.

Second question is related to crude purchasing contracts in the current context, mostly focusing on the March month and the April month. Are you still purchasing all the crude quantity on the spot or dated basis, or some portion of the crude is still contracted basis you are taking from the countries?

I will take a pause here.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Thank you. I'll reply the first question first.

As far as crude purchases are concerned, you can see from our performance that not only for the whole year our capacity utilization is 112%, even in quarter four, which was influenced by geopolitical events, our performance is 111%. We do agree there were challenges, there were uncertainties, but we overcame them through continuous collaboration, multiple sources, keeping our channels open, and then resolving obstacles.

That is how we could process all those crude. Now on your issue on March and April, if you want to ask us, are we doing everything on spot?

No. Our term contracts are intact, and barrels are flowing out of our term contracts.

Yes, there have been some impact, which has been made good by spot. When we look forward, all our term contract suppliers are reassuring ourselves that all the commitments will be honored by them.

Yogesh Patil

Let me quickly reframe the same questions. If you could give us a idea what is a spot or dated crude purchase and what is the portion term contracts volume you are getting?

That's one. Secondly, are you still paying a premium on the term contracts also?

The market is aware that on a spot or dated basis, the refiners are paying premiums, but on a term contracts also, you are paying a premiums also?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yeah. Again, I told normally our term is 55 to 60%, there is not a major variation now.

One or two barrels plus minus is happening, but no significant change has happened there in the past or looking forward also we don't see a major change. One or two barrel, one or two shipments, cargoes, one or two shipment cargoes, maybe here and there, which will be made good going forward.

As far as term or spot premium, see, the term cargo, they are based on OSPs. The OSPs are fixed for a tenor, and we procure.

There is no change in that formula. Only thing, month to month, depending on spot and other criteria, these companies declare their OSP.

Still, if you ask me, that our agreement is to purchase at OSP, the term, we continue to purchase at OSP.

Yogesh Patil

Sir, my next question is related to export duties on the diesel and the ATF in the current context for these current fortnight. Export duties are much much higher than the cracks on the same product, diesel and ATF.

For the current fortnight, are we in the positive on the diesel and the ATF cracks, or you can correct me on this side?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I will reply like this. Export is not a compulsion to me.

Export is one of the options available to me, to optimize my margins and realization. Main products like HSD, MS, everything, I see all my markets, I look at all my realizations, and then whatever mix and combination is best profitable for the company, those kind of things we do.

For compulsion, we are not booking anything on export.

Yogesh Patil

The question was quite simple, sir, from my side, and I would be happy to take your answer on that very simple note that the cracks we are realizing on the diesel and ATF in the current context of the export duties, which are higher, are we in the positive range or in a negative range?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

There I didn't knowingly know because what you're asking and what is my knowledge is very different. See, to my understanding, the export duty or that cess is part of the realization, part of the broad cracks, and it is not higher than the cracks.

Then that doesn't make a difference for CPCL because when I have multiple options and I have the option of both selling domestic as well as export, and till the time I'm able to take a commercial decision based on merit, I think intermittent abnormal indication in the market doesn't impact me and my profitability.

Yogesh Patil

Fair enough, sir. Fair enough.

Sir, LPG maximization in output, how much it has impacted to our GRM during the March month, and what kind of a impact we will see in the Q1 FY27?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I told instead of 404, we have gone to 447. That's about 10%, and this has not impacted our margins.

Yogesh Patil

The last one, sir, capex guidelines for the next year and the guidance on the debt levels, if you could provide, that would be helpful.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I told the debt positions are very, very comfortable. On a net basis is hardly 0.1, D/E ratio.

Less than ₹1,000 crore, less than ₹1,000 crore borrowing. We are very, very comfortable there.

As I said, LOBS have been approved. All clearances are available with us.

LOBS project, Group II, Group III LOBS project is ₹1,600 crore. The retail outlet project is ₹400 crore, so that makes it ₹2,000 crore.

This ₹2,000 crore will happen over two to three years. Besides, every year you can assume another ₹500 crore as our normal capex.

Yogesh Patil

Okay. Thanks.

Thanks a lot, sir. This was really helpful.

Operator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Nilesh Ghuge from HDFC Securities.

Please go ahead.

Nilesh Ghuge

Good afternoon, sir. Sir, firstly my question is on this throughput again.

You mentioned that you have done the highest-ever crude throughput for FY26. Are you confident that this throughput level will remain at 110%, 111% in FY27, at least for first half, or will there be any challenge in maintaining that elevated utilization?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

We all have to understand what are the parameters or why a company can perform more than 100% or why a company cannot perform more than 100 100%. See, these capacities are built on certain days of operation.

To my understanding, 330 days, standard days. What is happening is if my upkeep is good, if unplanned interruptions are not happening, if day-to-day operational bottlenecks are solved immediately, then I have additional leeways where I'm able to operate this.

Because the fixed costs are pretty high in a refinery kind of a situation, if I'm able to take this leverage, it is not only adding to throughput, it is also adding to the divisor effect, and my performances, my metrics, my profitabilities are pretty good. What I'm saying, if it is one year, one off year, we can analyze.

What we're saying, consistently for the last four to five years, we have been exceeding our 10.5 installed capacity. It means what?

The operational philosophy has become very, very stronger. Some of these issues, the excellence has come in.

Now you will ask me the projection. First, just to reply you, in the first six months, we don't see any M&I.

It may not be there. Yes, maybe close to September, October, we have a scheduled M&I of one of our refinery units.

These throughputs will be dependent on that. We also told in the last year that in spite of one of the crude unit M&I for one month, this was achieved.

I must tell you the forum, the investor forum, this company is also trying to look into some of the possibilities, low cost debottlenecking, and we are talking to EIL. Idea is what, when we are consistently able to perform this, can we do some debottlenecking or some enhancement in our secondary processes, on a systematic basis with a low-cost capex, and can we sustain even higher margins than this?

Nilesh Ghuge

Okay. Thanks.

Thanks for this elaborate answer. My second question is on the refinery transfer price.

Are you selling our petrol and diesel at the refinery transfer price to the oil marketing companies or are you selling at any discount?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

No, our agreement, as you would be aware, close to about 90% of our product, mostly HSD, MS, it goes to Indian Oil. We have a tie-up with them, a long-term agreement with them for selling.

The agreement is at RTP, refinery transfer price.

Nilesh Ghuge

Okay. Thanks.

Thanks a lot. Thanks for answering my question.

Thank you, sir.

Operator

Thank you. The next question is from Sabri Hazarika from Emkay Global Financial Services.

Please go ahead.

Sabri Hazarika

Good afternoon, sir. Firstly on a few bookkeeping questions.

You mentioned 13.75 was your reported GRM for Q4, right?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Mm.

Sabri Hazarika

What would be the core GRM?

10.3

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

would be core GRM.

Sabri Hazarika

10.38? 10.3.

10.3,

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

right.

Sabri Hazarika

Okay. Secondly, what could be the forex loss for the quarter and for the year?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

For the quarter, it would be For the quarter, it is about ₹200 crore, approximately about ₹200 crore. For the for the whole year, it will be around ₹600 crore.

Sabri Hazarika

Sir.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

That annual figure, you can correct to

Sabri Hazarika

₹350 crore, approximately ₹350 crore. ₹350 crore.

Theek hai, sir. Second is basically in the current scenario only.

I think the previous participant also asked you. Ideally what our understanding was that, the government comes up with the Arab Gulf numbers.

We take the Arab Gulf, then we minus it with the Indian basket or say Brent if we assume it that to be the benchmark. Then what happens is that whenever the export duty is imposed, the domestic RTP also gets adjusted by that amount.

Right now, I think it is too early, I guess, two times only it has been changed, but right now the netback after the export duty adjusted in domestic RTP is negative. Is it what is right or you are saying that you are still getting good GRMs even after this export duty and current cracks?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I'll tell you what is running now today as I am speaking to you. As I am speaking to you, the net GRM based on realized RTP is pretty close to long-term average.

Sabri Hazarika

Okay. Okay.

Because there was some news regarding the OMCs also asking additional discounts on RTP. I think ₹60 per liter, some number was quoted in the media.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I think you will agree with me, I can tell what I know and what I observe.

Sabri Hazarika

Right, right, right.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

About reacting to media reports, I am as good or may not be as good as you.

Sabri Hazarika

Right, sir. Right now you are near the long-term average GRM.

That is what is the current

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

run. When I'm speaking, that is today, when I compare today's net GRM or net cracks to that way, I find it is to be close to long-term average.

Sabri Hazarika

Got it, sir. In diesel and ATF both, right?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yes.

Sabri Hazarika

Okay. Currently, what is the crude mix of the company?

How much you are getting from where, and what could be the average price at which you are getting?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

See, the price, whatever I tell will be wrong because what we have witnessed we have never seen. We never thought BDD will be negative $20, then BDD will be positive $20.

There is a wild fluctuation that is happening. I think for a company to operate, the present one day, two days scenario is not a scenario to discuss.

I can tell you my mix. As I said, this refinery is capable of 70% high sulfur, up to 70% high sulfur.

Depending on the BDD, whether sweet crude is cheaper or sour crude is cheaper, I source. Like in the current year, I told we sourced 52% HS.

Instead of 30%, I sourced 48% LS because I found LS is cheaper than HS. If I'm able to process cheaper low sulfur crude, then I am getting more yield, I am getting less fuel and loss, my profitability are increasing.

I am harnessing these opportunities available in the market. I'm checking what is my optimum potential, and then I'm doing best to increase the margins and the profit.

Sabri Hazarika

No, I wanted to know geographically if I divide it between say Middle East, Russia, and others, then what would be the mix?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I will say, let me start with India. Maybe India would be around 10%, Bombay High and others.

Sabri Hazarika

Okay.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

25%, 30% maybe Russia,

and

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

yes, and the rest would be mostly Middle East countries barring 5% to 10% Africa and US crudes.

Sabri Hazarika

This Middle East is basically that Saudi west coast, Red Sea volumes that could be coming, right?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

No, it also includes Iraq.

Sabri Hazarika

Iraq is flowing currently?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

No, not immediately. See, I told on a immediate basis, any judgment or any call from my side has no relevance because every day it is changing.

I told how I am designed and how I am processing.

Sabri Hazarika

Right, sir. Sir, just a last small question.

How much would be your current crude and product inventory days?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

See, typically, I think if I don't take into ullage and operation kind, normally my inventory days are 20 odd days, 20 odd days. Because the situations are a little difficult, I operate with a flexibility from 5, 7, 10 days to 15, 18 days.

I operate depending on day-to-day basis. When a cargo arrives suddenly, it comes to my comfort, and by the time next cargo comes, I keep minimum distance so that my operations are not interrupted.

Sabri Hazarika

This is crude plus product both?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

No, I talked only about crude. See, product, the dispatches are happening to Indian Oil, and the facilities are nearby close to my facility.

There is no change from earlier, and those days are pretty normal, very few days

Sabri Hazarika

of hardly a few days. Few days of product inventory you generally keep because you are nevertheless embedded with IOCL.

Okay. Thank you so much.

Thanks a lot and all the best. Thanks.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. The next question is from Abhijit Nadkarni from UTI AMC.

Please go ahead.

Abhijit Nadkarni

Sir. Sir, my question is even though for Q4 the GRM is around 13, the situation over

Operator

Sorry to interrupt, sir, your voice is too low.

Abhijit Nadkarni

Am I audible?

Operator

Now you're audible, sir. Please go ahead, sir.

Thank you.

Abhijit Nadkarni

Yeah. Sir, my question is till February the overall geopolitical situation was normal, and in the month of March the actual events started reacting to the overall elevated crude oil prices and even higher cracks.

Even though the GRM have improved, can you provide any quantitative figure how cracks have increased in the month of March as compared to January and February for CPCL?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yes, what I can tell you is the quarter four GRM I gave as an indication, which includes January to March, and quarter four GRMs were a little better than quarter three. Quarter three GRMs were a little better than quarter two.

That is how quarter two, quarter two, quarter three, all these last three quarters were much above quarter one. That's the sequence the whole year has gone.

If you talk about any particular part of March or any particular part of April, the volatility is very high on a daily basis. Still in these months, the cracks are reasonable enough and closer to our long-term averages.

That is how we are striving to maximize our throughput even in this situation.

Abhijit Nadkarni

Okay. Okay.

Fine, sir. That answers my question.

Thanks.

Operator

The next question is from the line of Dhaval Popat from Choice International Limited. Please go ahead.

Dhaval Popat

Congratulations on good sets of number, and thank you for the opportunity for asking question. First question I had was HPCL underwent the residual up-gradation facility recently, and CPCL had done it way back in 2018.

Is it possible for the management to comment on how's the CPCL RUF is different in terms of bottom disruption, vacuum treatment of vacuum gas oil or vacuum gas as compared to what HPCL will do now? The second question I have particularly is that from a perspective of the flexibility between the diesel and jet fuel, how comfortable is CPCL moving to jet fuel or the proportion of jet fuel being higher in the current quarter as compared to diesel provided the European cracks are going to be much more higher and influencing the Asian cracks as well?

I'll stop here for the answers.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

On the first part of your question, see, each refinery, the unit name may look similar, but the configurations are altogether different. My bottom upgradation project and HPCL's bottom upgradation project may not be same in all parameters.

I can tell you what I achieved through my upgradation project. Like the last part, the DCU, delayed coker unit, till now, I was operating at a capacity of 70 odd percent.

This time, I'm close to 100%. Again, because this time I felt how the blends can come from other units, I can process in DCU, I can further improve the yield, and that is how you find my yield to be 80%.

If you see last three, four years of CPCL, the yield has gone up significantly up, not marginally up. Certainly, these kind of projects play a large role over a period of time.

On the other part, diesel versus jet fuel, see, based on the license I have, based on the configuration I have, I have certain percentage of product that is fixed. My swing capabilities are minor.

From convert one to other, only thing this kind of debottlenecking, blend transfer, rerouting, mixing, these can be done, but there is a limitation. CPCL, because it operates three crude units, it is a lot of flexibility.

To that way, and certainly our operation plan, we run our RBO plan thrice a month. Thrice a month, we look at what is the broad trend, what modification can happen, how can you optimize profit, and that is how we tweak our plan.

Even if we have a long-term plan, we have annual plan, we have a monthly plan, we tweak to the extent possible depending on all these parameters.

Dhaval Popat

This helps, sir. Just a follow-up on this.

As you said, of course, I've been following the CPCL, and it has increased from 75% onwards to almost now 80%. Over the next three years, how can we expect the distillate yield to be going forward, let's say by 2029 in '27, '28, '29?

Will we be able to see similar improvement or will be some slower improvement or how can we see that? Ha,

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I'll reply this like this. See, there are some gradual small improvement which happens through operational measures based on experience, blend transfer, and all that.

That's a continuous process. That small incremental impact will continue.

Some more things happen through schemes, capex, low capex schemes. Our people work on both sides.

Parallelly also we are working on so many capex, small capex projects which can give a significant impact. Parallelly also we are running on our ENCON schemes and all, which at all times gives impact on fuel and loss, but at times it also gives us benefit in terms of yield.

Third point is crude mix. We are forgetting crude mix is a big factor in improving yield, and that is where we go on exploring more and more crude.

We look at blends, what kind of blends can be done, and at times this also gives a lot of additional benefits without significant corresponding increase in cost.

Dhaval Popat

Agreed. I'll get back in the line.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

All these efforts will

Operator

The next question is from the line of Kirtan Mehta from Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund. Please go ahead.

Kirtan Mehta

Thank you, sir, for the opportunity. I have a follow-up question on the statement that you made that the current net GRM are based closer to the longer-term average both in case of diesel and ATF.

Is this somewhere around $15 per barrel? Is that the average that we are looking at?

Because typically over a 7 to 10 years, the diesel cracks have averaged around $15 per barrel.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

It seems you and me are reading two different books. Ha, when I look at five-year average, in MS, I also find a negative cracks.

Though we are not talking on MS, if I stick to diesel, I found $11 to $13 is a long-term average.

Kirtan Mehta

$13 per barrel?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

$11 to $13, 1 1 11 to 1 3 13.

Kirtan Mehta

Understood, sir. Second question was we had seen a situation something similar during the Russian invasion, at which point of time I think within the OMCs there was a mechanism adopted where government announced the export duty, and there was a commercial discussion between the OMCs and the independent refiners, and the domestic purchase price for the OMC was set adjusting for the export duty.

For the domestic purchases, OMC enjoyed the discount. Is the same mechanism being implemented even under this crisis or the mechanism is something different?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

What I will tell is RTP is a very transparent pricing mechanism which is available at a industry level and is available to everyone. I think it will not be appropriate for me to deliberate on RTP pricing.

As I talk today, even those gross margins, the other impacts are changing drastically day to day. Only thing I can tell you is what I am able to see over a 15-year 15-day period or a month period.

When I look for a month average kind of a period, I feel I'll be able to sustain the long-term averages.

Kirtan Mehta

Sure, sir. One more question was follow-up on the crude basket.

We said that we have a 55% to 60% coming through the long-term agreements. Could you also sort of highlight how much of this long-term agreements are with the Middle East partners, and what portion of those long-term agreements has been impacted by this closure of the Strait of Hormuz for more than 50 days now?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I will tell you, maybe you can consider almost all of the long-term agreements are Middle East. Even within this difficult situations, cargoes are still flowing to us.

What has impacted is maybe 30%, 40% would have impacted on a very short period. All have assured us that depending on the situation, they will make up all the cargoes.

Kirtan Mehta

Understood. Probably one more question about the Russian cargoes.

You've said that it's around 25% to 30% in the mix. In the previous quarter, we had seen some sort of level of discounts of around $3 or so.

At this point of time, when we compare with the Brent, is it coming at a discount or is it coming at a premium?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

See, again, as you see, we evaluate crude not based on where from it is coming, what is the premium or discount. We try to evaluate what is my landed cost.

What is my landed cost, LS, HS, what is the combination I want, and based on that, even if I am procuring Russian crude, I am comparing the landed cost because it is part of the spot. When I take a Russian cargo, I compare with other available spot cargoes.

I take based on the least landed cost basis.

Kirtan Mehta

Right, sir. Just one last question.

In terms of you have spoken about the ₹1,600 crore Group II and Group III LOBS project. Could you sort of highlight some economics details in terms of what would be the sort of the yield improvement that we expect out of it, what kind of margin it can make?

Ha,

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I'll tell you that. See, first, it is a IRR based project.

We expect a good IRR out of this. This is not a compliance based project, this is a economics based project that we are doing.

The products will be Group II and Group III LOBS, which will go to lube formation because you will find the lube manufacturer, a significant portion has moved from LOBS 1, one grade feed to second and third for value-added product. A lot of LOBS 2, 3 will give me realization.

Third is maybe a small part of my HSD will also get converted into LOBS. Basically it's a value-added product scheme where I'll be moving from lower value addition, lower realization product to higher realization product.

Kirtan Mehta

Sure, sir. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Nirav Jimudia from Anvil Wealth.

Please go ahead.

Nirav Jimudia

Sir, thanks for the opportunity. I have two questions.

Sir, first is on the low-cost debottlenecking, which you just mentioned in your one of the remarks. If you can just throw some more light on this, like how much we are contemplating in terms of this low-cost debottlenecking of our existing refinery, and if you can give some sense in terms of what would be the capex for this low-cost debottlenecking, which we are currently undertaking?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Right. I'll repeat what I said about capex.

I said there are two new projects with me. One is LOBS 2 and 3, which is ₹1,600 crore.

₹400 crore is on my retail outlet, CPCL has ventured into retail outlet, 300 numbers retail outlet, and both these are new product, those are economical projects. Both will give me first on expanding my margin, my value chain, from only refinery to refinery plus marketing, and the LOBS will give me value-added product.

Besides this, I said about another ₹500 crore is my normal maintenance capex, and part of this maintenance capex is always used by our team to look into the opportunities of small low-value capex which can either result into efficiency in terms of energy and reducing my fuel and loss or value-added product or some mix and other things where my overall bottom line improve. That happens on a day-to-day basis, regular basis, which will continue.

Nirav Jimudia

Correct. I understand that fact about the expansion and the newer products what you mentioned.

I was more talking about the debottlenecking part, like currently

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

No, ha, I hope you are referring to some debottlenecking that I told. There I have said the capex is not frozen.

We are doing a study because what I said is my capacity is 10.5. If you go back three, four years, I was not able to achieve 10.5.

For the last three, four years, I am consistently exceeding 3.5 10.5 and achieving 11.6, 11.7 even with or without a shutdown. I felt there is a sustainable capacity, additional capacity.

If you want to sustain and realize high value, you need commensurate secondary with primary.

Nirav Jimudia

That

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

commensurate secondary, we are doing a study. The study is not yet complete.

In the coming year, '26-27, we hope that ongoing study will get completed. If we find out some low-cost capex today that is not part of our plan, that will be in addition to whatever I have told.

Nirav Jimudia

Correct. Perfect.

Got it. Sir, second question is on the value-added products, like three, four value-added products.

One is n-paraffin, second is pharma grade hexane, then naphtha also fetches currently now some premiums in the international market when we export that, and fourth one is MTO. If you can just help us in terms of how much this products have achieved volumes in FY26, and let's say out of the GRMs what we have achieved in FY26, how much would be the contribution from these four products put together?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

At this point, I may not have detailed breakup for this four product, but I'll tell you very differently the same question that you are asking on a directional level. See, 90% of my product is sold to Indian Oil, 90%, 92%.

7%, 8% constitute these kind of main products, and this 7%, 8% till now is giving me 15 15% of my margin. If you take one product like say MTO, it has more than doubled in the last financial that we are talking.

If you talk about hexane, I have doubled my capacity. Again in the coming year, I may ramp up this production.

Similarly, I told two more products that discussing. These are small, small niche products, but if you take them as a group, there is some good potential that we can increase margin.

Nirav Jimudia

Correct. Sir, just a follow-up, like you mentioned that hexane we have doubled our capacity, if you can help us how much it was and how much currently we have in terms of

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

So 30, now the capacity is 60. Correct.

Nirav Jimudia

Second follow-up is on the expansion or the newer project of LOBS. What would be the capacity enhancement or the capacities which we would be looking at with this newer project of Group II, III LOBS?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

See, today what is happening is, as you would be knowing, CPCL is the only refinery which has liquid fuel, which has wax, and which has lubes potential. This is the only refinery in India which has all three potential.

Today, part of our lubes potential, we only are doing grade one. Today we don't have grade two, grade three.

All the people who are dealing here in India, most of them import. I don't have this capacity.

Now my new unit will take me to a 250,000, 250 KTPA in Group II, Group III capacity, and that will be a fresh addition. That will replace a lot of import, and it will give me value addition.

Nirav Jimudia

Got it. Sir, lastly, your thoughts on n-paraffin.

How is this product in terms of our overall refinery mix? How much we were in terms of the production of n-paraffin, let's say three, four years back, and where are we currently in terms of n-paraffin?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

What I will suggest is on this n-paraffin, we can take this question offline because I'm not finding this to be very, very significant. Then if you want a directional answer, I talked about two products, pentane and textile grade MTO.

These are again something on that direction. Idea is what, whatever we find in our periphery where because of our technical skill the margin can be increased, and plus we operate three units, our flexibility is more.

We have taken advantage in the past. Going forward also our technical team is competent, and they look out for these opportunities.

Nirav Jimudia

Perfect, sir. Thank you so much and wish you all the best, sir.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. The next question is from Akash Mehta from Canara HSBC Life.

Please go ahead.

Akash Mehta

Hi, thanks for having me call. My first question is in regards to you mentioned that you are purchasing the crude on OSP basis.

Can you just help us understand how long are these long-term contracts and basically what's the difference if we were to kind of purchase from spot versus long-term contract? Is it the same or how much advantage we have?

That's my first question.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yeah. I'll tell you, see, these contracts are one-year contracts.

Before end of every year, the terms are renewed almost on similar basis and similar terms. What is the difference between term contract or spot is, in case of a term contract, the supplier binds himself except unseen force majeure cases or otherwise, he commits us volumes of the specific grade that he has entered into us at a OSP.

The price basis is agreed, the volumes are agreed, and some of the flexibilities for both supplier and the consumer are agreed. In case of a spot, I give the requirement to the market for one parcel, for two parcel, whatever I want.

From parcel to parcel, there are those changes: my specification as well as the pricing terms.

Akash Mehta

Sure, sir. That's helpful.

Secondly, you have mentioned the crude breakdown in terms of sourcing historically or in a normalized situation, but can you just help us understand how things are going into the April month in terms of the region-wise or country-wise sourcing?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I think there also I replied to one of the queries where I said specifically if you talk about Middle East, 30% to 40% if you look for a very short period is the disturbance that has happened. All the suppliers have assured us that they are committed by the annual commitments and they are committed to supply those barrels.

That intermittent short period gaps, we had no difficulty in filling up from spot.

Akash Mehta

In general the purchases are coming majorly from Russia and Africa or any other region? If you could just help us understand.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Mostly there, but in between few cargoes are otherwise-ly also available. Again, what will come to us depends on what is the delivered price that has come to me.

Suppose 10 people might have quoted, but I'll be taking the lowest cost on delivered basis, I'll be knowing what I have taken.

Akash Mehta

Sure, sir. That helps.

Thanks from my side. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. A reminder to all participants, please restrict yourself to two questions.

The next question is from the line of Nalin Shah from NVS Brokerage. Please go ahead.

Nalin Shah

At the outset, sir, let me congratulate the entire team of CPCL for I would say probably it is the lifetime best performance from CPCL, if I am not wrong. That is my first congratulations to the team.

Sir, my question is that all the other technical questions have been answered. What I want to say and add is that your top line, which is now at a significantly high levels, something like ₹50,000, ₹70,000 crore, ₹90,000 crore.

Your share capital has remained, sir, at a very small level, ₹148 crore. Are we not wanting to reflect correctly our share capital by capitalizing the bonus shares and giving out to these investors?

That is, I think, one question which remains in my mind when we have a significant reserves of almost ₹11,000 crore.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I must thank you for complimenting the team. On the performance, I will tell in terms of number, certainly this is one of the best performance that we have done, but I'll still rate this as the best because if you see on all parameters, we are exceeding year by year.

What that gives me a confidence that given a good market, given a conducive atmosphere, we can repeat or exceed these kind of performances when everything else falls in place. Now with respect to reward, see, that is another aspect.

We are very clean, and we have been demonstrating all these over the past two, three years. If you see 2023-24, one of the highest-ever dividend of ₹55 was given against ₹10.

Nalin Shah

When

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

even though the company was looking for capex, there were good growth projects were there, but we felt no. Reward to shareholder is also an important part.

If you see the current year, again for the first time interim dividend was given,

Nalin Shah

and

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

now if you include the interim dividend, the dividend is ₹62, the overall dividend is ₹62,

Nalin Shah

maybe

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

again one of the highest dividend paid by this company to shareholders. As far as we are concerned, the shareholder is in our focus.

You would also appreciate some of the decisions are taken at the right time. We feel at a right appropriate time, even the bonus issue will also be considered by the board, and a right decision will be taken.

Nalin Shah

Thank you very much, sir. Thank you, and once again congratulations for a outstanding performance and the best wishes for the current year.

Thank you.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Umang Aditya, an individual investor.

Please go ahead.

Umang Aditya

Sir, am I audible?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yes, please.

Operator

Yes, sir, you're audible.

Umang Aditya

Sir, I have one question on my part. Sir, in March quarter, crude was around $110 to $115, our blended margin GRMs came around $9.2.

I want to ask, can you just quantify any profit forgone in terms of selling of oil to IOCL in absolute numbers?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Okay. Two things I will tell.

First, on crude price and GRM, actually and literally, scientifically also, there is no one-to-one relationship between crude price and GRM. See, it is the crack, the difference between crude and product, which is called the crack, that determines GRM based on my efficiency.

The crack, gross crack, defined by my fuel and loss and my operation capabilities decides what kind of GRM I'll have. At times, even a low crude might have a low GRM period, and a high crude might have a high GRM period, and vice versa.

There is no one-to-one correlation between the two. On the second part, can you repeat the second part?

Umang Aditya

My second part is can you just quantify a absolute number which profit forgone by CPCL by selling oil to IOCL?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yeah. Yeah.

What I told is though I sell about 90%, 92% oil to IOCL, but I have entered into a long-term agreement with them,

Umang Aditya

and

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

the long-term terms are RTP, refinery transfer price. This is the price where everyone sells to an OMC.

Basically what I sell is at the price at which industry sells to marketing companies. I will not assign anything as profit forgone because I'm selling at market price which everyone else is selling.

Umang Aditya

Actually, the purpose of asking the question was that no doubt it was a very good result. I know.

The purpose was because we can see clearly GRMs have fallen due to RTP cap and all, there would be an absolute impact. I would expect any rough number from your part.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

No, I'll not be able to allocate a rough number at this place because whatever you are saying is also maybe at max a fortnight or maybe less than that, which will not impact the results that we are discussing, either the quarter or the annual very significantly. Yes, and as far as I am concerned, and when I look at my business, when I'm realizing something close to my long-term averages, I will not put a lot of effort into day-to-day movement because I'm not a trader.

My objective is not to take advantage or get bogged down by short-term, a few days abnormal situation. My idea is whether my business model is intact, whether my margins are in the path of long-term averages, whether I'm able to create efficiencies within my system from what I have done last, if I'm on the growth trajectory, I'm able to bring in new projects, I'm able to improve my material balance, and on the margin front I'm on my long-term average.

That is where I'll put my focus and my efforts.

Operator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of N.M.

Modi, an individual investor. Please go ahead.

N.M. Modi

Sir, good afternoon. Thank you for giving me opportunity.

Sir, my first question is regarding other expenses. During this quarter, the other expenses is ₹634 crore, whereas last year it was ₹344 crore, there is a steep increase.

At the same time, all over in whole year, last year it was ₹1,465 crore, and this year it is ₹2,001 crore. What could be the Yes.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yes, Mr. Modi, you are right.

As we talked, because the rupee movement is significant during the quarter as well as year, that is what is accounting significantly. We gave a rough number of about ₹200 crore towards the quarter and about close to about ₹350, ₹400 crore towards the annual.

That constitutes a significant part of this, and this is booked in other expenses.

N.M. Modi

Oh, that is included into other expenses.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yes, yes.

N.M. Modi

Sir, one note could have been helpful in that regard. If you would have given one note below that accounts.

No,

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

no, we normally do that, but as there are classification of percentage of the item, and based on that, it has not been, but your point is well taken.

N.M. Modi

Yes, sir. Other thing, sir, this GRM you have pointed out during conversation $13.75 during this quarter.

Sir, in notes to the accounts you have mentioned 9.28. It is not clear to me.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

What you are seeing in annual accounts is full year.

N.M. Modi

No, no, sir, that is written in the last quarter only. In the accounts, it is written at 9.28 US dollar is in the last quarter.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

It is full year,

April to March.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

You see the corresponding figure will also be full year.

N.M. Modi

Okay.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Let me read out what I have written. This is note number seven.

Average gross refining margin for the period April to March '26 is USD $9.28 per barrel, within bracket April-March 2025: US $4.22 per barrel.

N.M. Modi

Clear, sir. That is for whole of the year.

Right,

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

right. Thank you.

Clear.

N.M. Modi

This 13.75 stand for the last quarter of the year.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yes, please.

N.M. Modi

Sir. Sir, money

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yes, please?

Operator

Thank you. The next question is from the line of Yogesh Patil

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

We'll be taking one or two more.

Operator

Sir. From Yogesh Patil from Dolat Capital.

Please go ahead.

Yogesh Patil

Thanks for taking my question again. Let me touch again this earlier question and need a small clarification.

To the net GRM or cracks on a diesel, you guided that $11 per barrel to the $13 per barrel range. This average net diesel cracks for the last one month since the export duties are imposed from 26th March, is this a correct understanding?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I do not evaluate or my management information system doesn't do it on a daily basis. I see over a period.

Normally I see over a period either a month or a fortnight. Normally my period will be a full month, 1 to 30th, or first fortnight, second fortnight.

On a day-to-day basis, we don't monitor this.

Yogesh Patil

The month would be the appropriate to take last one month, correct?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yes, that is how we plan our operation, that is how we monitor the performance also, and there we felt the long-term trend is intact.

Yogesh Patil

The understanding would be correct. Net GRM or cracks or diesel would be around $11 to $13 per barrel for the last one month.

That's the appropriate to

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

understand. For year, including the last quarter.

Yogesh Patil

Yeah. Last question from my side, sir.

Previous participants asked that the Russian oil and the Brent oil price purchase difference. Let me reframe, on the landed basis, considering the best value product outcome from the crude, whether it's a Russian or the Brent, Russian crude is cheaper than Brent or in line or premium to Brent?

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

I'll tell you like this. Suppose I say I have purchased 20% Russian.

Then this 20% Russian were cheaper than other available crude for the grade that I asked for. Suppose I have purchased another 10 other crudes, then those were cheaper compared to any other crude during that time, based on the specification I wanted.

Whatever Russian I have procured, that was on delivered basis was cheaper. If some Russian I have not procured, that means it was not on delivered basis cheaper, or during that time something else was cheaper.

Operator

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we take this as a last question and conclude the question-and-answer session.

I now hand the conference over to the management for closing comments.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Yes, I thank you again, all of the participants. CPCL is committed for stellar operational performance.

We take each of the feedback pretty seriously. For us, the investor conference is a system of two-way communication, and we are committed to continue with our excellent performance year after year.

Challenges, whatever challenges come, we put our best foot forward, and we see that how it can be resolved within our capacity and constraint. Over the last few years, CPCL has demonstrated that irrespective of situation we are in, we are able to navigate stronger and in a better manner.

We hope we continue the same going forward. Thank you all once again.

Operator

On behalf of Elara Securities, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us.

You may now disconnect your lines.

Rohit Kumar Agrawala

Thank you.