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The Star
25-05-2025
- The Star
Domestic travel the main draw at Penang MATTA Fair
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang edition of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair this year is seeing exhibitors focusing on domestic destinations in support of Visit Malaysia 2026. Besides attractive local destinations, international travel packages are also available at the two-day fair, which kicked off at the Setia SPICE Arena yesterday. Thousands of visitors turned out as early as 10am on the first day, eagerly waiting in line at the main entrance to get into the Arena, where various tourism packages were up for grabs. Among the first-time visitors to the fair were Nabila Salam and her husband Muhamad Wafi Ahmad Musrab, both 29, and their baby. 'We heard that the Penang MATTA Fair is offering great domestic travel deals this year, so we decided to check it out,' said Nabila. The account administration executive shared that she and her husband were planning a trip to Sabah next year and were browsing for the most affordable travel packages available. She added that family-friendly tour options, particularly those that include island-hopping and nature excursions, were among their top preferences. 'We're hoping to find a package that balances relaxation with some adventure, maybe something with a mix of some time at the beach and cultural activities,' she said. Engineer Muhamad Wafi expressed interest in child-friendly deals that include accommodation and transportation. 'Travelling with a baby means we need convenience. If meals, airport transfers or guided tours are included, that's a big plus,' he said. Administration executive Joan Tan and her friend Summer Yeoh, both 30, want to look for the best bargains before deciding where to go. 'Actually, we are planning for Japan, but there are so many other interesting destination packages on offer here,' said Tan. Yeoh said they still had one more day to look for good and affordable packages. 'We will look around first before deciding where to go, but Japan will definitely be our first option,' she added. Exhibitors are looking forward to a rousing response from visitors. An exhibitor from Kota Kinabalu, Wilrialyn William, said one of the most sought-after packages in Sabah is the five-day, four-night Kundasang package, available for RM1,516 to RM1,239 per person. 'This ground package includes a visit to Jambatan Tamparuli, Kundasang, Desa Farm and island-hopping to Manukan and Sapi islands,' she said. The sales and reservation executive, 42, said there are also three day, two-night packages worth less than RM300 for Malaysian citizens. Travel tour company manager Nurin Afrina Batrisyia Mohd Khairul Nizam, 21, said there are plenty of international travel packages offered by her company. 'Among the popular destinations are Turkiye, Vietnam, Japan and Yunnan in China,' she said, adding that the packages are priced between RM1,000 and RM8,000 depending on the destination. She noted that Europe is also a popular holiday choice, with favourite destinations including the Balkan region and Central Europe. MATTA Penang chapter chairman Carolyn Leong said the first day of the event was positive, with visitors lining up at the entrance from as early as 10am. 'We expect some 45,000 visitors to attend the two-day event,' she said. Leong noted that visitors can look forward to various packages for domestic tourist destinations such as Sabah and Sarawak, with direct flights from Penang through Malaysia Airlines (MAS). Regarding international travel packages, she said China is expected to be a major market, driven by the recent implementation of visa-free policies. Industry observers anticipate a surge in outbound travel to China. State tourism committee chairman Wong Hon Wai launched the start of the fair yesterday. In his speech, he highlighted an important new feature at this year's fair – the Domestic Tourism Zone – which was being introduced for the first time. 'It's a great initiative to help more Malaysians explore the beauty of our own country. 'Local tourism has great potential, and this zone gives it the space and attention it deserves,' he said. This year's fair features 258 booths by 90 exhibitors, covering 7,427sqm on two levels of the Arena. Among the participants are 60 tour and travel agencies, the Uganda Tourism Board, 11 hotels and resorts, a theme park and an airline company.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ACC Ltd (BOM:500410) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth Amid Operational ...
Revenue: INR9,329 crores for Q3 FY25. EBITDA: INR1,712 crores with a margin of 18.4% for Q3 FY25. EBITDA per Tonne: INR1,048 for Q3 FY25. Operational Costs: INR4,618 per tonne for Q3 FY25. Energy Costs: Reduced by 7% due to better fuel management. Transportation Costs: Declined by 6% to INR1,239 per tonne. Cash and Cash Equivalents: INR8,755 crores as of December 31. Net Worth: Approximately INR63,000 crores. Ready-Mix Plants: Reached 100 with eight new plants commissioned in Q3 FY25. Limestone Reserves: 631 million tonnes secured in Q3 FY25. Green Power Share: Increased to 21.5% from 15.8%. Lead Distance: Reduced by 4 kilometers to 85 kilometers. Direct Dispatch: Increased by 700 bps to 57%. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with BOM:500410. Release Date: January 29, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. ACC Ltd (BOM:500410) achieved a revenue of INR9,329 crores, driven by strong focus on micro market management strategy and expansion of dealer network. Operational costs for the quarter decreased due to a 7% decline in energy costs, attributed to better fuel management and increased use of green power. The company commissioned a 200-megawatt solar power project in Gujarat and secured 631 million tonnes of new limestone reserves. ACC Ltd (BOM:500410) plans to expand its cement capacity to 140 million tonnes by FY28, with several new facilities and expansions underway. The company is making significant progress in its ESG commitments, aiming for net zero by 2050 and increasing the share of green power in its operations. EBITDA per tonne was reported at INR1,048, with concerns raised about the operational performance and cost structures of newly acquired assets. The company faced higher costs due to shutdowns for maintenance and retrofitting at several plants, impacting overall performance. Realization per tonne decreased sequentially, with challenges in maintaining premium pricing amidst market conditions. The integration of newly acquired assets like Penna and Sanghi is still in progress, with current utilization levels below optimal. There is a significant increase in other expenses, partly due to consolidation of new acquisitions and higher consumption of stores and spares. Q: Why has the operating performance dropped significantly this quarter, especially in terms of EBITDA per tonne? A: Ajay Kapur, CEO: The volume growth was strong at 16.7%, but the inclusion of Penna and Sanghi volumes, which have higher cost structures, impacted overall costs. Additionally, several plants were under maintenance, affecting inventory and costs. We expect improvements as these assets ramp up to higher utilization levels next year. Q: Can you explain the sequential drop in realization despite industry price hikes? A: Ajay Kapur, CEO: The drop is due to the consolidation of sales from markets with depressed prices, particularly in the South. The price increases in December will reflect more in Q4 results. Q: What is the current cost differential for Penna and Sanghi compared to traditional capacities? A: Ajay Kapur, CEO: Currently, costs for Sanghi and Penna are about 10% to 15% higher than Ambuja's. We expect to reduce these costs by implementing various initiatives, including waste heat recovery and alternate fuels. Q: How do you view the industry supply curve and its impact on pricing? A: Ajay Kapur, CEO: Indias demand is expected to grow at 8%, requiring additional capacity. While new capacity additions may create short-term pressure, responsible capacity building is necessary to avoid higher consumer prices. We expect pricing to stabilize as demand catches up. Q: What is the expected timeline for receiving the INR4,500 crore incentives? A: Ajay Kapur, CEO: These incentives are expected to be received over the next seven to nine years, contributing approximately INR500 crore annually. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ambuja Cements Ltd (BOM:500425) Q3 FY25 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth Amid ...
Revenue: INR9,329 crores for Q3 FY25. EBITDA: INR1,712 crores with a margin of 18.4% for Q3 FY25. EBITDA per Tonne: INR1,048 for Q3 FY25. Operational Costs: INR4,618 per tonne for Q3 FY25. Energy Costs: Reduced by 7% due to better fuel management. Transportation Costs: Declined by 6% to INR1,239 per tonne. Cash and Cash Equivalents: INR8,755 crores as of December 31. Net Worth: Approximately INR63,000 crores, up by INR12,000 crores since April. EBITDA Margin for Nine Months: 16.3% with EBITDA of INR4,103 crores. Ready-Mix Plants: Eight new plants commissioned, reaching 100 total. Limestone Reserves: 631 million tonnes secured in Q3 FY25. Green Power Share: Increased to 21.5% from 15.8% in power mix. Lead Distance: Reduced by 4 kilometers to 85 kilometers. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with BOM:500425. Release Date: January 29, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Ambuja Cements Ltd (BOM:500425) achieved a revenue of INR9,329 crores in Q3 FY25, driven by strong market management and expansion of its dealer network. The company commissioned a 200-megawatt solar power project in Gujarat and secured 631 million tonnes of new limestone reserves. Operational costs decreased due to a 7% decline in energy costs and a 6% reduction in transportation costs. EBITDA stood at INR1,712 crores with a margin of 18.4%, supported by cost improvements and increased direct dispatch to customers. The company is on track to expand its cement capacity to 140 million tonnes by FY28, with several new facilities and expansions underway. The operating performance was weaker than expected, with EBITDA per tonne dropping to INR537 when adjusted for incentives. Realization per tonne decreased sequentially, despite industry-wide price hikes in December and January. The newly acquired assets, Sanghi and Penna, are still underutilized, operating at sub-40% and sub-50% capacity, respectively. There was a significant increase in other expenses, partly due to higher consumption of stores and spares for maintenance. The company faces challenges in ramping up the newly acquired assets to full operational efficiency, impacting overall cost structures. Q: Why has the operating performance dropped significantly, with EBITDA per tonne only at INR 537 after removing one-time incentives? A: Ajay Kapur, CEO, explained that while volume growth was strong at 16.7%, the inclusion of Penna and Sanghi volumes, which have higher cost structures and lower capacity utilization, impacted overall costs. Additionally, several plants were under maintenance, affecting inventory and costs. These are expected to stabilize in the next financial year as utilization improves. Q: Can you explain the sequential drop in realization despite industry-wide price hikes? A: Ajay Kapur noted that 1.4 million tonnes of sales came from markets with depressed prices, particularly in the South. The price increases in December will reflect more in Q4 results. Q: What is the current cost differential for Penna and Sanghi compared to traditional capacities? A: Ajay Kapur stated that both Penna and Sanghi have costs about 10% to 15% higher than Ambuja's traditional costs. Initiatives are underway to reduce these costs, with expectations of significant improvements as capacity utilization increases. Q: How does Ambuja plan to achieve the targeted cost reduction to INR 3,650 per tonne? A: Ajay Kapur outlined several initiatives, including increasing green power usage, optimizing logistics, and improving operational efficiencies. These efforts are expected to progressively reduce costs over the next few years, with significant savings anticipated from captive coal mines and other projects. Q: What is the expected timeline for receiving the INR 4,500 crore in incentives? A: Ajay Kapur mentioned that these incentives are expected to be received over the next seven to nine years, with an annual addition of approximately INR 500 crores on top of the current INR 600 crores from expanded capacity. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
