Systematix singled out Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd. as a high inventory choose within the sugar sector, as the corporate is well-positioned to learn from beneficial costs and the continuing shifts within the ethanol manufacturing panorama, it famous.
The federal government has raised the value of C-Heavy molasses-based ethanol by Rs 1.69 per litre to Rs 57.97 per litre. Nevertheless, opposite to market expectations, the costs of B-Heavy molasses and sugarcane juice-based ethanol remained unchanged at Rs 60.73 per litre and Rs 65.60 per litre, respectively, for the second consecutive yr. This has led to disappointment as there have been expectations of a value hike of Rs 1.8-2 per litre for these feedstocks, mentioned Systematix.
The rise in CHM ethanol costs is anticipated to learn distilleries utilizing C-Heavy molasses as a feedstock, because it may improve their revenue margins.
Then again, distilleries counting on BHM and SCJ to provide ethanol could proceed to face margin pressures. The federal government had raised sugarcane costs by 3-5% within the earlier yr, however it didn’t make related changes to the costs of BHM and SCJ, resulting in a difficult setting for distilleries utilizing these feedstocks.
Moreover, firms which have invested considerably in increasing their distillery capability for BHM and SCJ might even see decrease utilisation of those amenities, as costs haven’t been raised for these sources.
A brand new ethanol tender issued by the federal government for the interval between Feb. 15 and July 31, 2025, reveals that solely C-Heavy molasses and grain-based ethanol will likely be bought. This transfer alerts a transparent desire for CHM and grain-based ethanol, additional diminishing the attractiveness of BHM and SCJ-based manufacturing. Distilleries could shift their focus to producing CHM and grain-based ethanol, which provide higher margins on account of authorities incentives, the brokerage famous.
The rise in sugar costs, from Rs 37-38 per kg till December 2024 to Rs 39-39.5 per kg in January 2025, may result in a lift in sugar manufacturing. The announcement of 1 million tonnes of sugar exports has supplied an incentive for mills to maximise sugar output, making the most of increased costs and improved profitability within the sugar division.
Whereas the value hike for CHM ethanol is a optimistic step for distilleries utilizing this feedstock, the unchanged costs for BHM and SCJ-based ethanol could proceed to weigh on the profitability of firms within the ethanol sector.