Aarti Drugs Limited (524348) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

October 25, 2024

BSE Limited IN Health Care Pharmaceuticals earnings 46 min

Earnings Call Speaker Segments

Operator

operator
#1

Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to Aarti Drugs Limited Q2 FY '25 Earnings Conference Call. This conference call may contain forward-looking statements about the company, which are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectation of the company as on date of this call. These statements are not the guarantees of future performance and involve risk and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. [Operator Instructions] Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Adhish Patil, CFO and CEO. Thank you, and over to you, sir.

Adhish Patil

executive
#2

Thank you. Good morning, and a warm welcome to everyone present on the earnings conference call of Aarti Drugs Limited. On this call, we are joined by Mr. Harshit Savla, Joint Managing Meritor; Mr. Harit Shah, Whole-Time Director of Aarti Drugs Limited; and Mr. Vishwa Savla, who won't be in the call; and SGA, our Investor Relations Advisor. I hope everyone had an opportunity to go through the financial details, press release and investor presentation, which we have uploaded on the stock exchange and on our company's website. Let me begin with the highlights of Q2 and H1 FY '25 financial performance. During the last quarter, on a year-on-year basis, there is a drop of revenues and profitability, mainly due to lower realization driven by negative rate variance and deeper market demand in the API business. The volumes have remained flat on year-on-year basis, whereas on a quarter-on-quarter basis, we have seen a volume growth of 8% in API segment. Looking ahead, we are optimistic about further improvement in pricing, this should support continued growth in FY '25. EBITDA stood at INR 68.5 crores with EBITDA margin at 11.5%. PAT stood at INR 35 crores. Going away by the end of FY '25, we anticipate an improvement in margins, mostly driven by upturn in selling price levels and an anticipated demand growth in export sales. On a stand-alone basis, the revenue stood at INR 543.1 crores as against INR 577.5 crores, down by 6% on Y-o-Y basis, with 66% of the revenues coming from domestic market and 34% from the export market. For the cost alone [indiscernible] within the API business, the antibiotic therapeutic category contributed approximately 40%, antidiabetic around 18%, antiprotozoal around 17%, anti-inflammatory around 10%, antifungal around 10% and rest contributed around 4% to the total API sales. Formulation segment revenue stood at INR 65.6 crores for the quarter, with exports contribution of around 53%. In H1 FY '25, revenue from formulation segment stood at INR 136.6 crores. The greenfield project at Sayakha, Gujarat for Specialty Chemicals is on track, which we plan to come in, in this quarter. With this, the operating leverage is expected to put in from the second half of the year with improved capacity utilization and more backward integration. The production of Salicylic Acid had commenced at the beginning of this financial year. We are still to ramp up the capacity of Salicylic Acid to the full potential. Currently, we are producing roughly around 100 tonnes per month. There have been certain teething issues and we expect to ramp up the production to 300-plus tonnes per month by the end of the current quarter. In total, we have capacity of 1,800 metric tonnes per month, which will ramp up in a phased manner throughout FY '25 and FY '26. During H1 FY '25, the company has incurred CapEx of approximately INR 90 crores, mainly towards capacity expansion and the greenfield projects, backward integration and new product launches. We anticipate a total CapEx of roughly around INR 200 crores for the full year. This CapEx would be mainly through internal accruals and partly through term loans. In September 2024, the company has completed the buyback of 665,000 equity shares at a price of INR 900 per share. Face value of INR 10 each fully paid up in September 2024. The company continues to strive to maintain payout to the shareholders while continuing to invest in the next leg of growth. The pharma API manufacturing industry is constantly evolving and we are committed to staying ahead of the curve. We continue to expand our capabilities and enhance our confidence to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers. We also plan to invest in new technology and equipment that will help us streamline our processes and improve the efficiency. As we navigate through short-term challenges, our commitment to overcoming obstacles and achieve long-term success remains steadfast. Our journey may be marked by uncertainties, but it is also defined by collective ability to adapt, innovate and emerge stronger. I reiterate on the positive outlook for both our API and non-API business. Our ongoing projects, coupled with optimized capabilities will serve as a cornerstone of steady growth in coming years. Importantly, we anticipate continued growth in exports within the formulation business as well. I would also like to point out that this was the first year where we had published our sustainability report. It is published both on our website as well as on stock exchange. Please have a look at it because we strive to reduce our carbon footprint in spite of having the leading capacity in manufacturing sector of API industry. We would still like to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to the environment. With this, we can now begin question-and-answer session. Thank you.

Operator

operator
#3

[Operator Instructions] The first question is from the line of Rashmi Shetty from Dolat Capital.

Rashmi Sancheti

analyst
#4

I just want to know what was the negative rate variance in quarter 2 on a Y-o-Y basis? And how much was it in H1 FY '25 in the API segment?

Adhish Patil

executive
#5

Rashmi, so Y-o-Y yoga basis, we have seen around [indiscernible] negative rate variance for the quarter 2. For the quarter 1, it was little higher. But now as quarter-on-quarter, the rate variance is hardly 0.5% at a composite level. So we have seen some products going up, some products going down. So it has more or less stabilized. However, I would like to point out that in certain antibiotic products, we are still seeing a slight decline in selling prices for -- as we start current December quarter.

Rashmi Sancheti

analyst
#6

But can you quantify how much is the rate variance -- negative rate variance in this quarter 2, quarter 1 as well as in first half? And how much are you expecting that it should come up in the second half of FY '25?

Adhish Patil

executive
#7

Yes. So the quarter-on-quarter is approximately -- there is no rate variance on quarter-on-quarter, it hardly minus 0.5% or something in June quarter versus September quarter. Whereas September versus September '23, there is around 7%, 8% rate degrowth.

Rashmi Sancheti

analyst
#8

And in first half?

Adhish Patil

executive
#9

Composite level, I don't have it right now.

Rashmi Sancheti

analyst
#10

Okay. How much are you expecting in H2 that this 7% to 8% should come up to what number on a Y-o-Y basis?

Adhish Patil

executive
#11

It should go down because last year, from September month onwards, the pricing had started correcting as far as raw materials are concerned. And December also a lot of -- December quarter, a lot of things were corrected and which continue till, I think, month of January and then it got stabilized last quarter -- last year that is. So it will be, I think, low single digits probably.

Rashmi Sancheti

analyst
#12

Low single digits. Okay. And the Salicylic Acid, the sales which has commenced, it will be part of your API segment, right?

Adhish Patil

executive
#13

Yes. But the application for Salicylic Acid is quite varied in the sense it goes in manufacturing of various salicylates, which have application in flavor and fragrance industry, [indiscernible] industry as well as cosmetic industry. So it's tough to classify as API because it also goes as an intermediate for manufacturing of aspirin as well. So it will be a mix category.

Rashmi Sancheti

analyst
#14

Understood. So how should we look at the API segment growth for FY '25 because in first half, we are showing a decline of around 10%? But your rate variance could come off -- the negative rate variance could come up in second half. At the same time, volume growth is also improving. So for the full year, we will still see a decline or there could be some flattish growth because I'm just talking from an API segment perspective, excluding your Specialty Chemicals?

Adhish Patil

executive
#15

Okay. The current utilization of the API segment is roughly around 78%, roughly for the quarter of September. So with INR 543 crores, which [indiscernible] Specialty Chemicals, that is roughly around 78% of the utilization. So it still has a scope to increase, whereas we are adding a certain capacity for antidiarrheal products of metronidazole, then we are planning to increase the capacity of [indiscernible] going forward. And we have added fluconazole, which is an antifungal [indiscernible] and this would come from the higher utilization of the current capacity.

Rashmi Sancheti

analyst
#16

Yes. So any sort of guidance if you can give like on FY '25 and FY '26 basis, how this API segment growth should look like?

Adhish Patil

executive
#17

Actually, we'll have to rework on these numbers based on current pricing level. But I can give you one indication that with current pricing level and our current capacity, it will roughly give potential revenue of around INR 2,750 crores for the -- on a stand-alone business, which will include both API and [indiscernible].

Rashmi Sancheti

analyst
#18

API and [indiscernible].

Adhish Patil

executive
#19

This is excluding the greenfield projects.

Rashmi Sancheti

analyst
#20

Okay. And this is [indiscernible] you are targeting for this year?

Adhish Patil

executive
#21

No. We are not targeting for this year. Out of this only as of now, around 78% is being done as far as quarter -- September quarter is concerned.

Operator

operator
#22

[Operator Instructions] The next question is from the line of Raj from Agio Partners.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#23

How much is the price drop in quarter 2?

Adhish Patil

executive
#24

With respect to -- last year, it is around was up 7%, [ 8% -- 7.5%]. And with respect to June quarter, it is hardly minus 0.5%.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#25

Q-on-Q prices dropped by 0.5%. And year-on-year, it has dropped by 7% to 8%, right?

Adhish Patil

executive
#26

Correct. Correct.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#27

In the earlier calls, we have guided for INR 4,200 crores to INR 4,500 crores of sales in the next 3 years' time. So I wanted to know the outlook for the full year FY '25 [indiscernible].

Adhish Patil

executive
#28

With the total guidance, that was the potential guidance for coming 2 to 3 years' time line. So we would like to revise it down because of the current API prices. So what we see that -- now I think that the current potential will be anywhere between INR 3,500 crores to INR 4,000 crores as far a current pricing levels are concerned. But if there is any increase in the pricing, that will definitely help us [indiscernible] numbers.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#29

All right. And sir, about the EBITDA outlook for the next 3 years?

Adhish Patil

executive
#30

So the EBITDA, our efforts will always be to reach a target of around 14.5% to 15.5% because that is what we historically used to manage. Definitely, there were a lot of challenges in the last couple of years in terms of volatility of pricing of raw materials plus the coal was very high, but now that has also corrected plus the power rates have gone up. But there also, we are taking [indiscernible] to release our power rate by going into renewable energies. So with all those efficiencies back in place, we feel that we should be targeting around 15% to 15.5% EBITDA in the long term.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#31

All right, sir. And sir, about the price drop in the API. So what exactly is the issue? Is it an oversupply situation? Like is it a demand issue or there's excess inventory stocking?

Adhish Patil

executive
#32

Yes. Yes. So the primary reason would be the fall in the raw material prices, that is the primary reason. However, that is coupled with a lot of secondary reasons, like in first quarter, there was a bit of overstocking issues and there was lack of demand, both in domestic as well as export market, especially in the export market, which was also because of the fact that there are a lot of elections going around in most of the export geographies. So now the export demand should come back. We have already seen a little bit of uptick in the number of inquiries as far as the export markets are concerned. So there are a lot of secondary reasons as well like overstocking or the elections, other macro conditions. But the primary reason continues to be the raw material prices.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#33

Understood. So sir, do we see any sales growth for FY '25? Or will it be a year where sales will go down slightly?

Adhish Patil

executive
#34

Yes. The sales -- it should be flattish because the thing is earlier, we had thought that even if [indiscernible] at the composite level, even if there is 7% to 8% negative rate variance, by having around 15% volume growth, which we should still be able to post a high single-digit growth number as far as value was concerned, that was our outlook at the beginning of the year when we started the year. But right now, because the first 2 quarters, there was lackluster demand, so we were not able to recover that loss in value because of the negative rate variance. So we feel that this FY '25 might look flattish by the end of the entire year -- entire FY '25 versus FY '24.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#35

All right. And sir, about FY '26?

Adhish Patil

executive
#36

So FY '26 should be a turnaround story because of our Salicylic Acid plant once is streamlined because of the steaming issue because that is a big project for us. So it does impact the bottom line quite heavily. So in fact, even this quarter, I would point out that around INR 5.5 crores -- between INR 5 crores, INR 5.5 crores -- or somewhere around INR 5.5 crores impact was there at the bottom line just because you can say we are not able to absorb those increased overheads because of the lower production and the potential. So once that is ramped up, the capacity increases, the operating leverage will kick in, that will help us reduce those losses.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#37

All right. And sir, when do we expect to ramp up the production of Salicylic Acid?

Adhish Patil

executive
#38

So it's going on step by step. So in October month itself, we had -- we will be slightly ramping up. Then in November month, we are internally targeting at least to go beyond 200 to 300 tonnes per month. And then we will sequentially keep on ramping it up. And once the problems are solved, then the ramping up would be quite faster.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#39

Understood. So sir, how much is the sales per tonne and EBITDA per tonne in this product segment?

Adhish Patil

executive
#40

So the sales potential with the reduced prices would be anywhere between INR 275 crores to INR 300 crores market potential is there for Salicylic Acid. However, there are a lot of derivatives of Salicylic Acid like methyl salicylate, [indiscernible]. They are also a lot of -- in fact, those derivates go for export market, whereas Salicylic Acid, if want to say, we'll be selling in the domestic market. So with the fall in prices in the Salicylic Acid, that has mainly come because of the dumping from China. Earlier, the prices were at the level of INR 150 to INR 160 per kg. It has now come down to INR 125 to INR 130. But because of the fall, now the salicylates are looking more attractive. So we are thinking of going ahead to have capacity for salicylates in case we are not able to make money in salicylic acid, then definitely salicylates will definitely make more money.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#41

All right. And sir, you have an outstanding CWIP of around INR 300 crores. So when exactly all this CapEx is expected to come on stream?

Adhish Patil

executive
#42

Yes. It is slightly lower than that now. But -- so this mostly should come by this December because our Sayakha plant, the new greenfield project will be going online. So once it [indiscernible], then it will get transferred to [indiscernible].

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#43

All right. So we are expecting around like INR 300 crores of CapEx to come on stream by Q3 FY '25 end?

Adhish Patil

executive
#44

Roughly. Mostly Q3 itself, if not then, at max Q4, but this year itself.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#45

All right. And sir, do we have any further CapEx plans for FY '26?

Adhish Patil

executive
#46

So we have been doing small brownfield expansions like [indiscernible] putting more production work. So we do have a land parcels for small -- for [ rland parcels ] and for antidiarrheal, we have already taken the space -- antidiarrheal will come online in a month in fact. We already got the [indiscernible] to continue to operate for that facility. And plus, we do have some plans for long-term expansion. And then the plan for future growth, I would say beyond INR 3,500 crores to INR 4,000 crores of turnover, the plan is still on paper. And once we decide, finalize the products, which we want to go ahead with and then we'll start launching those in the land parcels, which we already have in the industral sector.

Operator

operator
#47

[Operator Instructions] The next question is from the line of Chirag Dagli from DSP Mutual Fund.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#48

How is the metformin production scaling up?

Adhish Patil

executive
#49

The metformin demand has picked up well, frankly speaking. So we are selling around -- more than 1,000 tonnes per month -- 1,000, 1,200 tonnes per month for the last quarter.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#50

Understood. And here, if I remember correctly, we could have -- we can be at the 1,800...

Adhish Patil

executive
#51

So right now, we do have a capacity of around 1,350 to 1,400 tonnes per month in between. So the plan was to scale it up to 1,700 to 1,800 in the very short term. But for that, we also have to go through the amendment of EC and everything.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#52

But that seems to be -- I mean, there is no hurdle on that one?

Adhish Patil

executive
#53

Not right away, but then there is one challenge that we were supposed to get the land parcel adjoining that facility. So that was a little bit delayed because of some other reasons, the governmental reason, that is a little bit delayed. So once you get that, then it will be much easier for us to scale up quickly.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#54

And Adhish, is there visibility beyond 1,800 for this product? Or do you think...

Adhish Patil

executive
#55

No, definitely. So once you get that land parcel, frankly speaking, we have visibility of around 3,000 tonnes per month. It is possible we have to go probably -- forward integration is need probably for this product because most of the competitors in this line are going that way. So probably -- because, fortunately, we do have our 100% subsidiary incremental. So that support is there. So ultimate potential, the long-term gain is about 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes per month.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#56

Understood. And this product is fundamentally more profitable than the rest of the business?

Adhish Patil

executive
#57

So see -- so in a bad business cycle, the other products have done better than this. But on a steady state, we still feel that this -- because this is antidiabetic segment, so it should be like growing product. Even now, it is growing at a good pace. So we are committed to this particular product. So we think the future is better than rest of the products for this particular product.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#58

Understood. The CWIP -- the second one is on the capital working progress of slightly less than INR 300 crores. Does that include the Derma facility, the Derma thing is already online, right?

Adhish Patil

executive
#59

Yes. The thing is in Derma, probably 1 or 2 plants means 1 or 2 sections, that has to go online.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#60

Understood.

Adhish Patil

executive
#61

But most of the Derma is [indiscernible]

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#62

On that, we are already taking the depreciation?

Adhish Patil

executive
#63

Yes. We are taking the depreciation. In fact, we are taking almost around some INR 3.5 crores to INR 4 crores per quarter. We are taking a hit in interest plus depreciation.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#64

You said INR 5.5 crores impact on -- that was on PBT level, is it?

Adhish Patil

executive
#65

That was on PBT level, correct.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#66

PBT. So of that PBT, INR 4.5 crores is depreciation interest and about INR 1 crore...

Adhish Patil

executive
#67

No, no. INR 3.5 crores to INR 4 crores.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#68

INR 3.5 crores to INR 4 crores is interest depreciation and the balance may be INR 1.5 crores, INR 2 crores is...

Adhish Patil

executive
#69

Around INR 2 crores [indiscernible].

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#70

Understood. Understood. And the INR 600 crores CapEx that we embarked on starting FY '22, it looks like most of that is already including the...

Adhish Patil

executive
#71

Correct. Correct. Most of it will be done by this year itself.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#72

We should broadly be done with that CapEx?

Adhish Patil

executive
#73

Yes. Yes, it should be. Correct.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#74

Understood. And -- so INR 300 crores resides in the CWIP. The other INR 300 crores, which has already been capitalized, is that -- when you think of profitability on that piece, is that optimal, suboptimal? How should we think about what is already in the ground and commercialized?

Adhish Patil

executive
#75

Whether it is already running at optimal level, that s what you're asking?

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#76

Yes, yes. Because I mean, INR 300 crores is...

Adhish Patil

executive
#77

So no. So the Derma is not -- right now, it is not optimally working. So once we streamline the production by November, then definitely the negative thing will go, first of all, there's a breakeven view and once you go through 700, 800 tonnes per month kind of thing, then it will turn profitable as well. So INR 6 crores will go and plus some additional profit should come.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#78

So how much of the INR 300 crore CapEx that we've already commercialized is on the Derma piece, which is suboptimal?

Adhish Patil

executive
#79

It would be roughly around INR 200 crores, roughly.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#80

INR 200-odd crores. And the balance INR 100 crores is optimal in some sense?

Adhish Patil

executive
#81

Yes. So the thing is not entire INR 600 crores -- so the INR 600 crores plan was like one of the products got delayed. So mainly it was -- then the INR crores plan, the 2 greenfield projects, roughly INR 200 crores each. So the INR 200 crores one will come [indiscernible] and this Derma one has come online, but it has to perform optimally.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#82

Sorry, I didn't catch this comment right. If the Derma and Specialty piece were INR 200 crores each, and Derma is obviously still not optimal, but the Specialty piece is also not yet optimal.

Adhish Patil

executive
#83

No. But the next we have to still put together.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#84

It's part of the CWIP?

Adhish Patil

executive
#85

Yes. Yes.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#86

Understood. Understood. Okay. Fair point. And this revised guidance of INR 3,500 crores to INR 4,000-odd crores, this is by when?

Adhish Patil

executive
#87

FY '27, mostly.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#88

FY '27. Understood. Understood. And just conceptually, we've been in this INR 65 crores, INR 70 crores kind of EBITDA run rate for almost 9, 10 quarters now. When do we move out of this range? I understand the long-term guidance. But when you think of the near-term business, how should we think about the near-term next 2, 3 quarters kind of? I know it's a tough question to answer...

Adhish Patil

executive
#89

Yes. So this quarter, there is still a lot of story. Probably not -- I would say, probably may not look very good. I'm not saying -- but it will bring a lot of clarity to the table that how things will shape up in the future. I'm talking about this current December quarter. Because a lot of things are happening. I mean salicylic is almost like -- we are hoping now that November shall be very good for salicylic. In fact, October itself, we have ramped up a little [indiscernible]. November, hopefully, we'll be doing one step better. And then Sayakha also starts in November. So -- then we will get a lot of clarity. And plus another positive aspect on the existing business is that at least the export market has started showing some demand uptick.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#90

Understood. Understood. So this -- so from the fourth quarter onwards, we probably move out of the zone is how you're thinking about?

Adhish Patil

executive
#91

Probably, yes.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#92

Understood. Understood. Just the last question on the U.S. FDA status, if you can just update what is happening on?

Adhish Patil

executive
#93

Yes. So we had an audit as expected in the month of September. In fact, we were expecting that the financial year for U.S. FDA from 1st October to 30th September. So we had been telling that we were expecting an audit before that, and it happened just like that in the last month. In fact, they came very late for us, they came in September. It was surprise audit. So it was quite long that way, 7, 8 days. We got 7 observations, but we see we are quite confident about the observation. In fact, in the closing meeting [indiscernible] year what they feel about the API facility. [indiscernible] it is like any other API facility. [indiscernible] But nevertheless, they did tell us that you gave a very strong cover for this within 15 days, and it might get through. That is what they said. Now we have already submitted the response within 15 days [indiscernible] 2 weeks back. We have sent that response. So now we are waiting. I mean they will come back to us after that -- and we have taken the help of U.S.-based consultants as well for making the response. So we hope that is quite holistic. They will give positive results.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#94

Understood. And this -- were there any repeat observations in this...

Adhish Patil

executive
#95

Repeat observation was not there. They say that we have to improve the documentation part of the investigation. So that was there. And I think that it will be there on the [indiscernible]

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#96

Correct. But none of the observations were what they already called for at the time of [indiscernible]

Adhish Patil

executive
#97

No, no. In fact, the impact -- the way the audit started was first facility round, they checked all the scrap and everything [indiscernible] And just a day before the audio, they said that, okay, the audit is done. And then suddenly last day in the morning, they again said, okay, we again want to see that E21 facility which is adjoining and they went there also and they checked that unit also, again, the adjoining unit. It was like another surprise, but then there was absolutely no point regarding that in the [indiscernible].

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#98

Understood. Understood. So assuming this improves for the better, Adhish, what happens in the first 6 months as that market opens up for us? How should we think about the financial impact of...

Adhish Patil

executive
#99

The financial impact for the first 6 months might be a little difficult. However, it will help us at the company level as well to improve our image in the export market, especially the European market. Because of the U.S. FDA problem, even though we have [indiscernible] approval for that particular plant, we were not able to sell certain products in the Europe market because of this U.S. FDA hurdle. So before even the U.S. business kicks in, our European business also will show some signs of improvement from that particular plant. So first 3 months, I don't expect anything that, frankly speaking. Next 3 months, that is from out to 6 months, probably some approvals -- more approvals will be on the way. Because in the regulatory market to get approval and start supplying at commercial level, it does take around 5 to 6 months, frankly speaking. Once the project is initiated by the quality people of the customer for getting the vendors approved, it takes time. But at least the old projects which we have should start in 6 months time. But first 6 months, very unlikely to show any significant impact on financials.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#100

Understood. Understood. And conceptually, like you've said in the past, U.S., Europe are higher realization markets...

Adhish Patil

executive
#101

Definitely higher. Much higher, yes.

Chirag Dagli

analyst
#102

The lowest hanging fruit is essentially to divert some of your current volume from the less realization markets to...

Adhish Patil

executive
#103

Absolutely. I can't -- that is also underutilized. So the underutilization will also be higher.

Operator

operator
#104

[Operator Instructions] The next question is from the line of Ravi Shah from Opal Securities.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#105

Sir, actually just 2 questions. The first one is, can you provide some insights on the current state of the entire API industry in India as of now?

Adhish Patil

executive
#106

[indiscernible]

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#107

Okay. Harit [indiscernible] So can you just explain the current demand scenario of API industry in India?

Harit Shah

executive
#108

Yes. Indian market looks very stable. We -- there is -- there are a lot of new producers in Gujarat and Hyderabad in recent last 2 years. But overall demand looks okay. There is no issue in demand.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#109

Okay. Understood, sir. So I'm not understanding why are you saying the revenue growth even though demand is stable, prices are stable or revenue degrowth, I'm not understanding that.

Harit Shah

executive
#110

Revenue degrowth is coming because of the lower realization per unit in the lower selling prices as compared to last year.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#111

Okay. So basically, the pricing, when you expect it to stabilize? Any idea on that?

Adhish Patil

executive
#112

Yes. So -- see, what happened was the prices have been falling every quarter since last 12, 15 months. So if we compare to current September quarter versus previous June quarter, the prices are almost stable, hardly around 0.5% of price decline is there on an average level. So prices look stabilized. But however, if we look at October month data, we can see that certain antibiotic products and one of the antifungal product price has been further gone down, but then the raw material prices of the product has also gone down. So a little bit here and there. But more or less, it is seen that prices are -- have stabilized at a composite level on an average level.

Operator

operator
#113

[Operator Instructions] The next question is from the line of Raj Malhotra from JL Financial Advisory.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#114

So sir, I had only 2 questions. So the first, for the project of Specialty Chemicals, when is that -- when are we planning to actually start that? And what kind of benefits are you expecting from the plant in the coming like, say, 2 years?

Adhish Patil

executive
#115

Yes. So the Specialty Chemicals plant at Sayakha is complete. We have already started trials in of the derivative plant. And the main plant will be starting trials in the month of November after Diwali by the mid of -- end of November mostly. So once that trial is successful and it comes into the production, most of the production will go for factor consumption. Some of it will go for external sales as well. Nevertheless, roughly -- if you talk about potential, around -- it might have a potential of adding around INR 40 crores to EBITDA in the long-term level -- long term, [indiscernible]. So that is one. And nevertheless, that you asked about specialty, I forgot to mention one point. In this particular quarter, our specialty segment [indiscernible] because of some less offtake of campaign-based products from a few of the M&C because their demand was a little low. So because of that also, we feel that we have lost around 0.25% to 0.3% in the gross margin at the company level for this current September quarter.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#116

Got it, sir. And sir, one more question. Like how do we see the formulation business growth in like coming few years? Like, can you elaborate a little on that?

Adhish Patil

executive
#117

Yes, yes. So at formulations, we are doing a very good job in terms of registering more and more products across different geographies. Even our Chilean subsidiary is doing quite good. This particular -- so for the first half of the financial year, there were 2 major audits at our formulation plant in [indiscernible]. First one was the U.S. FDA audit for the new oncology block, which we have put in. So that audit it is true, and we got U.S FDA approval for that oncology block. That was in first -- first towards the end of first quarter. And then we had -- in the beginning of the second quarter, we had another U.K. MHRA audit for the OSB facility. The OSD is the first facility which we had for [indiscernible] so -- and that also got approved. So -- and because of that, those 2 big regulatory audits, changes were being one. And we had lesser output production from the plants. Also from demand perspective also, it was -- a slight impact was there, but mainly because of these 2 audits. Though we made very nominal sale of around $2 million to $2.5 million in the quarter of September, but we have a very strong order book of around more than $12 million for the formulation business. So the export potential is very much there, we have a lot of orders in hand. So it will pick up, the formulation business, in coming quarters -- in coming 2, 3 quarters.

Operator

operator
#118

Ladies and gentlemen, we'll take this as the last question. I now hand the conference over to the management for closing comments.

Adhish Patil

executive
#119

Thank you, everyone, for joining us today on this earnings call. We appreciate all your interest in Aarti Drugs Limited. If you have any further queries, please contact SGA, our Investor Relations Advisor. In advance, we would like to wish you all a very happy Diwali and a prosperous New Year ahead. Thank you. Bye.

Operator

operator
#120

Thank you. On behalf of Aarti Drugs Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines. Thank you.

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