The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
MUMBAI, AUG 8, 2023
Owing to strong demand from the infrastructure, real estate, irrigation, and water supply and sanitation (WSS) sectors, revenue of electric resistance welded (ERW) steel pipes manufacturers is expected to grow 10-12 per cent in the current financial year (FY24), a CRISIL report said on Tuesday.
The industry had logged 16-18 per cent growth last fiscal, driven by pent-up demand.
Rising capacity utilisation, steady profitability and healthy balance sheets will keep credit profiles stable this fiscal, a CRISIL Ratings analysis of five players, accounting for more than half of the ERW pipe industry’s volume, shows.
ERW is the largest segment of the steel pipes industry, accounting for 70 per cent of volume. The other segments — submerged arc welded pipes and seamless pipes — constitute the remaining. ERW pipes have predominantly been used for fluid transportation applications. But over the last few years, they are increasingly finding applications in the construction and infrastructure segments.
“Increasing use of structural steel pipes in public infrastructure (railways, airports, metro), high-rise buildings and warehouses is pushing up demand for ERW pipes. A 33% increase in budgetary allocation for infrastructure projects this fiscal will also provide leg-up. Large government investment in water infrastructure projects such as the Jal Jeevan mission and Har Ghar Nal Yojana will keep demand from the WSS and irrigation sectors steady,” said Anand Kulkarni, Director, CRISIL Ratings.
Volume is expected to grow 12-15 per cent this fiscal, backed by increased affordability with softened steel prices. Last fiscal, it had surged 25-28 per cent, supported by a plunge in steel prices and pent-up demand.
The ERW segment has seen modest operating margin due to limited value addition, low entry barriers, and consequently, high competitive intensity. The segment has numerous unorganised companies, which have captured 30-40 per cent of the market.
The organised manufacturers are increasing capacity for value-added products such as pre-galvanised, galvanised, coated and API-grade pipes to improve their product mix. This has led to steady improvement in their operating profitability over the past few years. The profitability of the CRISIL Ratings sample set is estimated at 6-6.5 per cent this fiscal.
“The ERW pipe capacity in India rose 20 per cent last fiscal and is not expected to increase materially this fiscal as focus will be on improving utilisation. Despite the capacity addition, utilisation is seen healthy at ~70% and improve gradually thereafter on strong demand. Notwithstanding the capital expenditure (capex), credit profiles should remain stable, backed by higher profitability — through increased share of value-added products — and comfortable leverage,” said Rucha Narkar, Associate Director, CRISIL Ratings.
