Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (AKUMS) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited Q1 FY '25 Earnings Conference Call hosted by AMBIT Capital. [Operator Instructions] Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Prashant Nair from AMBIT Capital. Thank you, and over to you, sir.

Thank you. Hello, everyone. On behalf of AMBIT Capital, I welcome you to the 1Q FY '25 Earnings Call of Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited. We have the Akums management team with us represented by Mr. Sanjeev Jain, Managing Director; Mr. Sandeep Jain, Managing Director; Mr. Sumeet Sood, CFO; and Mr. Sahil Maheshwari, General Manager, Strategy. I now hand over the call to management for opening remarks, following which we can get into a Q&A session. Over to the management.

Thank you, Prashant, for the introduction. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to our Q1 earnings call. I'm Sahil, General Manager for Strategy. Let me draw your attention to the fact that on this call, our discussion might include certain forward-looking statements, which are predictions, projections or other estimates about future events. These estimates reflect management's current expectation of the future performance of the company. Please note that these estimates involve several risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied. Akums does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new confirmation, future events or otherwise. I hope you have gone through the investor presentation and the results that were posted. I would like to request Sandeep Jain, Managing Director of the company to please take it forward.

Thank you, Sahil-ji. Namaskar, everyone, and thanks for joining us on this call. Since it's our first conference call post listing, I will take a few minutes to deep dive on how the business is structured and also articulate on growth levers of our business. Akums is the largest India-focused pharmaceutical CDMO with over 30% market share. This is the main business vertical of the group, contributing to over 3/4 of the total revenues. Our company caters to 1,500-plus clients annually with long-standing relationship with top pharmaceutical companies in India. We cater to both Indian and MNC pharma companies with 26 out of top 30 in India pharma market being our partners. As a CDMO, we produce an extensive range of dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, liquid orals, vials, ampules, topical preparations, eye drops, dry powder injections, nasal sprays, amongst other. Since our inception in 2004, we have commercialized over 4,000 formulations across our 60-plus dosage forms. We have 11 units operational for formulation CDMO business with capacity of over 49 billion units annually. Some of our manufacturing units have been accredited by various global regulatory agencies, including European GMP, WHO GMP, USF and NSF, et cetera. We also operate 4 R&D centers with over 400 scientists working over there with around 2.6% of our revenues being invested in R&D. We are continuously building our R&D capabilities in pipeline. In Q1 itself, we spent over INR 30 crores in R&D. We are leading players in India, holding 940-plus DCGI, including 20 DCGI added in Q1 itself and 920-plus FSSAI approvals, showcasing our extensive strength in formulation development. We are passionately working towards strengthening our leadership position in CDMO space in India by expanding capacities to cater to a growing CDMO market, extending capabilities to newer dosage forms and developing robust portfolio of innovative formulations. In India with our strategy, we recently started our new injectable facility with an annual capacity of around 36 crores units. The unit is currently undergoing customer audits and is expected to ramp up in the next 24 months. Also, we plan to expand in Jammu to augment our capacities. Our plan is to set up 2 units over there. One is multi-dosage facility and another is a nutraceutical facility. We have recently ventured into new dosage forms, including nasal sprays, gummies and soon, we will start commercialization of lyophilized injections as well. In addition to our core CDMO business, we actively engage in marketing our own branded formulations in India and across global markets. Through Akumentis we focus on therapy areas such as gynecology, cardiology, orthopedics, and pediatrics in India with around 70% sales in chronic and subspace.

Sorry to interrupt, sir. You voice is breaking out. Sir, can you hear me?

So I think the line -- so I will continue forward. So we have almost -- as Sandeep, sir, was mentioning, we have almost 70%-plus sales in chronic and subchronic therapies. Leveraging our strong field force of over 1,500 employees, we market over 140 brands. Further through Unosource, we focus on global markets and present in 65 countries across multiple therapies, including CNS, anti-infectives, analgesics, gynecology, et cetera. We currently hold 700-plus dossiers globally. And in Q1 itself, I'm happy to share that we received 75 additional approvals for the dossiers. And we are actively expanding our team in various markets to capture global demand for quality generic products. We also engage in the marketing of trade generic products through distributors across India. Apart from these 2 business verticals, we are also present in API business, which contributes to over 5% of our revenues. We have an installed API manufacturing capacity of 737 metric tons and currently, almost 85% of the sales comes from cephalosporin APIs. We also manufacture APIs in respiratory, gastro, CNS and antidiabetic therapies. The business was recently started and is currently in the ramp-up phase. We are strengthening our capabilities in R&D, manufacturing and customer reach to scale up this business. Finally, at Akums, we are glad to introduce Mr. Amrut Medhekar, who has recently joined us as CDMO for CDMO operations. Mr. Medhekar brings with him almost 25 years of experience in pharma space. Now let me hand it over to Mr. Sumeet Sood, who is the Chief Financial Officer for the group.

Thank you, Sahil. So here, I'll take you through the group and the segment financials. If you see our results, the consolidated revenue for the group had increased from INR 970 crores to INR 1,019 crores during this quarter, the growth of almost 5.1%. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA grew from INR 108 crores to INR 131 crores, a movement from 11% to 12.7%. Consolidated adjusted PAT margins improved from INR 38 crores to INR 57 crores. That was a movement of 3.9% to 5.6% in the PAT. Consolidated gross margins also saw an improvement from INR 376 crores to INR 423 crores. It moved from 38.8% to 41.5%. If we now look at the segment, so if I take the CDMO first, the CDMO grew from INR 740 crores to INR 782 crores, a growth of 5.6%, largely driven by volume growth of 14% compared to Q1 '24. It's pertinent to mention that the pharma industry had a flattish volume growth during this period. The moderation of the revenue growth compared to the volumes was due to softening of the API prices. Our business is based on cost-plus margin. API prices impact our realization from our clients. If you look at the CDMO EBITDA, it improved from INR 107 crores to INR 121 crores. There is a movement of 14.4% to 15.5%. The branded generic revenue reduced from INR 191 crores to INR 167 crores. This is a 12.5% reduction. Efforts to consolidate the trade generic business and continued performance of the branded and generic formulation business has led to the improvement of EBITDA from INR 7 crores to INR 17 crores, so the EBITDA moved from 3.9% to 10.2%. API revenue improved from INR 38 crores to INR 70 crores, a growth of almost 82%. Exports in the API division have increased from INR 3 crores to INR 9 crores in Q1 '25. The API prices, though, had an impact on the margins of API business, wherein the COGS percentage increased due to fall in revenue realization. The EBITDA moved from INR 9 crores to minus INR 12 crores -- from minus INR 9 crores to minus INR 12 crores. The EBITDA margin sort of improved from negative 23% to negative 17.4%. The company was able to reduce its debt by INR 205 crores from INR 418 crores to INR 213 crores for Q1 '25. Cash flows from operations, we were at INR 52 crores positive. And the free cash flows were INR 31 crores positive. The working capital improved from INR 1,084 crores to INR 881 crores in the first quarter for the group. We sort of released a total of INR 203 crores in the working capital. So these are the financial results from our side. Thank you.

[Operator Instructions] First question is from the line of Ashish Thakkar from JM Mutual Fund.

Sir, on the branded and generic formulation business, you did mention that you're trying to cut the losses and therefore, revenues are slower. How should we look at this business going forward? Is the loss-cutting activity over or there's still some time to go?

Sure. So let me address, Ashish. So essentially, the branded and generic formulations is segmented further into 3 categories. One is the domestic branded segment, the second is the exports, and the third is the trade generic, right? As we said, we are curtailing losses, it is only to the trade generic segment. While both the branded domestic, the prescription branded domestic as well as the exports, both are positive. So in a way, the movement was earlier also positive. So overall in Q1, as Sumeet earlier mentioned, was from 3.9%, we moved to 10.2%, right? And to your point, yes, we are in a process to further curtail down these losses into the trade generic segment.

But then how should we look at this business growth because this -- is there a trade-off between improving margins and the revenues? How should we look at it?

Sure. So as I said, both the branded businesses, which are of key businesses, and they both have EBITDA margins above the corporate margins, right? So both of them are healthy, growing at a healthy pace. And we continue to stay active on these 2 fronts. Regarding trade generics, we had the opportunity to consolidate this business. So that is there where we are consolidating the revenue and the trade-off is largely over. From now on, what we feel is the worst is in a way behind us, and we should see some further improvements in the overall margins for the branded and generic formulations.

Okay, that's good to hear. Sir, second question is on this -- the Parabolic Drugs that the losses were there last year. And so how should we look at the losses coming down? Whatever restructuring that we were trying to do at their facilities, are all those activities over? And when can we see some contribution coming from Parabolic?

Sure. So the Parabolic, which today sits in our subsidiary Pure and Cure, which we acquired, so rightly so. So if you really look at the trajectory of Parabolic in FY '23, we had almost a 50% EBITDA loss -- in EBITDA loss. Then last year, we almost had a INR 40 crore-plus EBITDA loss over a sale of roughly INR 210-odd crores. So largely, the EBITDA is improving. Now if you really look at Q1 to Q1, last year, we had almost minus 23% of EBITDA loss, which now has improved to minus 17%. Like while the progress in improvement is a bit slow in this quarter, essentially, which is driven by the prices softened for the cephalosporins. As I mentioned earlier as well, was almost 85% of the business so the prices fall. So while the realizations fall, the COGS percent, it moved up. But in a way, the other aspects of the business, they stay intact. The growth is positive as I'm happy to share even in the first quarter, we also exported to Spain from our Dera Bassi facility, right? So we continue to add more countries, more accounts, more customer base and see how can we expand this business going forward. So all the growth levers are intact, while if you really look at it, the percent profitability also improved Q1 to Q1.

And so before I get into the queue, as far as the potential in the Parabolic Drugs is concerned, can we go to INR 1,000 crore revenue mark so which it used to do in earlier days? Is that kind of a potential still there in the Parabolic asset?

So I think you have read the financials of Parabolic, which is also a listed entity. So the assets are largely the same, right? So it is Dera Bassi, Lalru and Asil. These assets are fine. It used to do approximately a decade back that kind of revenues. But a pertinent point I wish to make over there is also it was approved by global authorities, right? So that endeavor is there that we, in coming years, export to more countries. But as far as your question is concerned, obviously, that facility is currently having a significant space for revenue expansion.

And when do you see this facility becoming EBITDA neutral? Are there any time lines?

So as in this point, I cannot put down a quarter wherein we would but the results are encouraging. As I was mentioning earlier, year-on-year, if you look even quarter-on-quarter, the percent decline is coming down. The revenues are increasing, the customer base is increasing. We have an active product pipeline, commercial, which is there. So the efforts are into the right direction and I feel that we should be in a good business -- in this business -- we should be able to do a good business.

[Operator Instructions] The next question is from the line of Rahul Salvi from Franklin Templeton.

So I had a question on the CDMO business. So the thesis here was basically that this business can grow faster than the Indian pharmaceutical market basically by volume share gains as well as gains in private labels, trade generics, et cetera. So that will also drive volume. But this quarter, I think the volume growth was just 6% or 5.6%. So if you could speak whether how we should expect this growth over the full year period and whether that trajectory of a low double-digit to mid-teen kind of a growth in this business is intact.

Right. So just a correction on to your question first. So as volume, as I mentioned, we grew more than 13%, almost 14%, we grew into volume terms. The revenue growth was 5.9%. So volume, yes, we grew faster. If you really look at the market, the volume and the new introductions, these were largely flattish in low single digits, if you really look at the MAT. But we grew double digits, which was almost at a 14%. So the underlying thesis is correct that we are growing faster than the market, much faster than the market. As was mentioned earlier as well by Sumeet, that essentially the business model is a cost-plus model, right? So the API prices have an impact on the transfer prices or the revenues we realize from our clients. But as I was mentioning, the volume is intact. And as you said, across the therapies, the zones, the clientele we serve, we continue to see a good traction to our business.

So if the volume growth was 13%, 14% and the growth -- revenue is 6%, so that means the product mix was inferior towards low-priced products. Is that how we should read it?

No, no. So the product mix remained the same. As I mentioned, the API prices this quarter, they fell almost by 7% to 12% depending on the API therapy, right? So once your API prices fall down, the revenue realizations fall down since it's a cost-plus model. Every purchase order, it's a complete pass-through to the customers, whether it's inflationary price or a subdued price of the API.

Okay. Got it. And what has led to the improvement in gross margins of around 430 basis points in this quarter Y-o-Y?

Sure. So as we were mentioning earlier, so we received multiple new innovative approvals, the new DCGI approvals, right? So we also had good operationalization of our facilities, right? If you really observe the utilization levels also improved, right? So it helps us improve the overall gross margins.

Yes. And on the full year basis, how should we expect the revenue growth trajectory? So -- since the API prices are stable and say, at those lower levels, so will the full year growth will also be slower on the CDMO side in terms of reported growth, even though the volume growth might be higher?

So honestly, today, sitting today, we cannot predict the API prices, right? While still some of the API prices have bottomed out, there is still a good chunk of API prices, which still continue to see a downward trajectory. Having said that, the key business growth driver for us is profitability and the volumes, right? Those 2 remain strong. If you really look at it, the EBITDA margins also improved and the percent margins also improved as well as the volume growth was strong, right? So as and when the API prices correct, it's right, we'll see an uptick in revenue. But sitting today, it's difficult to comment what will be the revenue growth.

Okay. And on the branded and generic formulations business, so if you could split out between the 3 segments, Akumentis, trade generics and the third segment as to what is the revenue split as well as margin split for us to get a better clarity in terms of trajectory? So if you could put that in the presentation itself, is that a possibility in the near future?

Yes. So Rahul, the issue we have is that we don't give that split in the financials, right? While we've grossly told you that there is an overall very healthy growth of the EBITDA margins from INR 7 crores to INR 17 crores. But we would be under compulsion not to probably disclose something which is not in the public domain. So we'll apologize for not letting -- not giving you an answer to your question.

Because the challenge we face is that these 3 are completely different businesses, having different business models and drivers. So it becomes easier for us to track the performance over a long period of time. That was my submission.

[Operator Instructions] Next question is from the line of Christy O. from HSBC Asset Management.

So I just have 1 question on the cost-plus model on the CDMO side because we're also aware that the API pricing downward trend has been happening since the end of 2022. And despite that, throughout 2023, I think our performance in CDMO actually did quite well, close to 20% growth, if I remember correctly. So has anything changed ever since? Because if the API pricing trend hasn't really changed and it's actually been improving, yet our performance is actually probably slightly lower compared to last year, is that due to potential outsourcing rates slowing down or is there something else that might be driving that pricing down?

Sure. So as I said, I'll bring all the points together. First is the volume growth was intact, right, almost over 14%, right? The margins they improved, right? So what fell down to realization is the factor that the API prices went down, right? So there was a consistent supply from both the Indian as well as the global players. Then there was stabilization in the prices of the solvents and the KSM prices, right? Due to weakened demand in the overall pharma industry, while we grew in the volume terms, the overall pharma industry was largely flattish. So all of these factors led to release of inventory from the API players, right? And hence, the API prices fell down. While '22, as you were mentioning, was a period of high, but then there have been since then, several API cycles of plus and minus. So that's there, right? And yes, I hope I've addressed your query.

I understand the inventory release part, but would you mind clarifying again on what might be the difference compared to last year?

Sorry, what might be?

What might be the difference in terms of the price deceleration compared to last year? Because I suppose when inventory destocking that happened last year when China was dumping a lot of API excess capacity to us in India, that has led to a very steep API downward pricing trend. And as we stabilize right now, if anything, it should not be worse than last year. But despite this downward pricing trend last year, we delivered 20% growth. So I'm just wondering what else might be causing the price discrepancy between this year and last year?

So no. As I mentioned, so the supply, the calming down of the solvent, the KSM prices, as I mentioned earlier, there was almost a reduction from 7% to 12-odd percent in the API prices. A few of the APIs, for example, cephalosporins, paracetamol, they continue to see a downward trajectory. So there's still softening of few of the APIs.

[Operator Instructions] The next follow-up question is from the line of Ashish Thakkar from JM Mutual Fund.

Given that this is the first call after your listing and on an overall basis, would you like to guide to the investors for FY '25? How should we look at the next 3 quarters panning out? Because the first quarter was just a 5% revenue growth while there was margin improvement. Would you like to give some color or some assistance from your side?

So Ashish, essentially, so as I was mentioning, there have been a good traction to the business. The volume is growing. The margins they remain strong. They have been performing well. So the endeavor is how can we perform well? As of today, we cannot give any guidance for the year. But all the levers, for example, the loss in the trade generic, they continue to curtail the APIs. There's a good amount of effort which is done to minimize the losses. And as and when the cephalosporin prices, they average out from the current bottom, we might see an uptick in the revenues, right? The export business is going strong. We have good product mix today, which has led to improvement of our gross margins, right? So all of these factors, we believe the business should grow and do well. But as of today, we do not wish to give out any specific guidance.

Is there a seasonality in your business in terms of the quarters?

So limited seasonality, but you might win some good orders at times. So some quarters, you might win some good quarters, and then there are opportunities which lie with, for example, if I get a regulatory approval in Q3, Q4, that might pan out well if it's a good product and demand, right? And then there is -- there might be some new customers which we add, which bring in revenues, which get shifted from other CDMOs. New companies launching new divisions that might give us a boost. So while the pharma, if you really observe Q2, Q3 are strong quarters, then driven by monsoon season and then the winter season. But for us, largely, it is good. But we have, in the past, really seen that some of the quarters might perform well driven by what our business wins are.

Okay, fair enough. And anything on the recent [ Ophthal ] facility, which you commercialized? Would that contribution start from quarter 2 onwards or quarter 3 onwards?

So the new injectable facility, which we commercialized starting 22nd this month, so how this happens is you get -- you need some time to get the required client audits, the WHO GMP and so on. So it takes almost 6, 8 months before we can onboard good clients with good capacities of the business to start with. So how do we currently see this business is from FY '26 -- '25, '26 onwards, we should be able to ramp this up. We have ampules, vials. We are also introducing new dosage form, which is lyophilized vials in that facility. And we are hopeful that this facility will make a meaningful contribution to our business.

Fair enough. And lastly, on tax rates, this quarter, the taxes were a bit higher than what we might have anticipated. What should we -- how should we look at the full year number?

So there will be 2 -- the way you look at the taxes is in 2 ways, right? One would be that if you look at the March '24 number, there was a deferred tax asset which was created, right? This was due to a merger that happened, right? Now what is happening is that in the period that asset is being utilized so that is showing in the financials. While the payout -- the cash payout will be much lower, but when you look at the financials, you'll see a higher charge if you look at the deferred tax charge, that is the difference. Otherwise, we should be on a payment basis on 19% to 20% tax for the company.

[Operator Instructions] Next question is from the line of Rohan Vora from Envision Capital.

So sir, recently, there were some news articles referring to extension in time line for Schedule M. So just wanted your view on the same.

[Foreign Language]

Understood. [Foreign Language] So there is nothing formed on this. It is just a representation?

Yes.

[Operator Instructions] Next question is from the line of Chintan Shah from JM Financial Family Office.

My first question is on the business revenue potential. So if I remember correctly, our capacity utilization was at 40%-odd for, say, FY '24. And then we had -- we have this new injectables facility plus there were certain facilities which were also underutilized and now we announced another 2 facilities. So my question is, what should be the revenue potential when we put all this together and how much the capacity utilization can increase to? And also, if you can help us understand how should we see the ramp-up to reach the revenue potential?

Sure. So as you rightly said, the capacity utilization was roughly about 40-odd percent, which was approximately 2% more than 38%, which we did the last quarter 1, right? So having said that, injectable, we operate at a good capacity. So let's also further understand when we say 40-odd percent, max we can achieve, given we have multiple SKUs, we do almost 18,000 SKUs annually over 4,000 formulations, which involves a significant changeover as well. The max capacity utilization ranges from 50% to 60-odd percent for -- depending on the line of product, right? So what we have essentially done, so injectables, which facility we kickstarted, we had significantly good visibility. And we're also operating at good utilizations for our injectable facility, right? And hence, this project got initiated a few years back, which got today this month, got commercialized, right? So that is there. As you said -- rightly said, Baddi also, we have oral solids and liquids, which again operates at good capacity. Liquids, in a way, can be seasonal when you have cough and cold and oral liquids can be seasonal. And hence, to cater to the spike in demand, which can happen, that is also there. Then at times, what we have also seen in the past is we get -- brands get transferred to us from other CDMOs or from in-house manufacturing to us. And hence, we keep a buffer of spare capacity to excel into the service to our customers. As far as Jammu is concerned, what we are essentially doing is we'll -- as we recently expanded into new dosage forms, this will some be newer dosage forms and some would be addition of capacities, which we feel -- so if you today have thought through it, you would appreciate that it would take a few years from when we can commercialize the facility. So for dosage forms, which today operate at decent capacities wherein we feel in the next 2 to 3 years, we might face capacity crunches. And hence, we thought of putting down a facility into Jammu.

Okay, got it. So question basically was to, if you put this all together, say, 3, 4 years, how should we see the revenue potential?

So if you really look at historic numbers, if we see the historic numbers, we usually do 2.5 to 3x of our gross block. So that is how we see it. While the margin profile from 1 dosage form might vary to another. But if we really stick to what has happened historically over the last 2 decades of the operations of the company, this is usually what we do when the capacity fully gets ramped up over the next 3, 4 years and operates at a decent utilization. On the utilization, which you said, I was mentioning so this is a continuous cycle, if you really -- and that's a sign of a positive business growth. So for example, if we today stand at 40% for any of our lines, right, and it slowly moves up to 50-odd percent, then we start to think of adding an additional capacity. So the time it reaches to 55%, 60-odd percent, which I mentioned earlier, is peaking out of our capacity. We add another capacity, it falls back to, let's say, 25%, 30%, then it starts moving up, right? So it's a cycle of growth of the company, and that's how we plan our capacities.

Okay, got it. Understood. So injectables, how much CapEx have we put in there?

So in the -- we have put in INR 152 crores in the injectable plant.

And this Jammu plant we're putting in approx. INR 265 crores?

You're right.

And when is that expected to be commissioned?

So over the next 24 to 36 months.

Next 24 to 36 months. Okay, got it. Understood. Secondly, my second question was on the balance sheet side. So right now, if I see the cash flows that we are generating, we have a balance sheet. And apart from this CapEx, I believe there is no other capacity addition on the card. So how do we intend to utilize the cash that we have now?

While we are generating free cash flow and we have proceeds from our IPO, there are specific purposes for which these funds have to be used, right? So of the total proceeds, INR 387 crores goes around repaying our debt, right, the working capital in the long term. Some of it will be for additional working capital. Some of the funds that we'll have, we've set aside for inorganic opportunities where we see some synergies for our business, largely keeping them as a corporate watches for the need that arises. So I think that's largely how we are going to use our cash, which will be on our books.

Okay, got it. Understood. And 1 question was on the CDMO margin. So we are somewhere around 15% -- odd and considering the capacity utilization, et cetera, that we have, I just wanted to understand, is this the optimal margins that we should expect we continue to do or is there scope for improvement?

So largely, that's it so the business is a stable -- this is a stable business vertical. I think these are stable margins for us.

Okay, got it. And the margin improvement basically that we should expect is from the other 2 segments?

Absolutely.

Okay, got it. And just 1 last question, just a continuation to what earlier participants asked. If we to understand the FY '24 revenues especially on the CDMO part, so is it fair to say that there was no element of decline in API prices that was involved? Or was it a case that the volume growth again in that particular year was much higher? If you can just spread it up, I think that would be helpful.

Right. So FY '24 as well, there was some decline in API prices, right? So we'll also see that -- so we deal with multiple APIs, right? So as I said, over 4,000 formulations from multiple APIs, right? So some go up, some go down, right? So as a business, what we mentioned in Q1, most of the APIs had a fall in the prices. And hence, we specifically call out that the volume was higher than the revenue, while the margins are intact, which gives us confidence that the product mix was good, right? So while there would be in some previous year as well, the volume growth was still intact but this is what is a specific nature for this quarter.

Okay, got it. So just 1 -- sorry for asking on this, but 1 more question. So we have done a 20% revenue growth in the CDMO segment last year. So now assuming there is some price decline, the volume growth will be much higher. And if I remember correctly for the industry, the volume growth exactly. So the outperformance was pretty high. So if you can explain what happened here? And in context to that, then this quarter seems to be a very sharp decline even if we consider from a volume perspective. So is that on a high base or what's the reason for that?

So can you paraphrase this again? Sorry, there were multiple points, I could not catch it.

So the quantum of drivers. Last year, basically, the volume growth was somewhere, if we assume, even 5%, 7% decline in API prices, volume growth was in high 20s. And now this quarter, if you see somewhere in the range of 13%, 14-odd percent. So I mean, that is what I'm trying to get. I mean, why is that such a sharp change in any 1 quarter basically in terms of volume?

Right. So 20-odd percent as a volume growth, I don't think we did it last year. So the volume growth, usually, what we do, this is a good quarter where we did volume growth and similar growth we do over the business cycle, right? So that is it. So volume, as you're mentioning, it's not really declined, but the volume growth has been positive for this quarter.

Next question is from the line of Ashish Thakkar from JM Mutual Fund.

Yes, just 1 question from my side. What is the kind of API inventory that we maintain in our CDMO business?

So we sort of have 2 months inventory in our CDMO business.

Okay. And since we are in the midst of quarter 2, you still feel that the price pressure from the API is still there. That's still relevant, right?

Yes. So it will have an impact in quarter 2 as well.

[Operator Instructions] Our next question is from the line of Prashant Nair from AMBIT Capital.

So I have 2 questions. The first 1 is on the API business. Can you elaborate on your plans for this business? It's a new one for you so I mean, will this be -- are you trying to build something similar to what you have on the formulation side, a CDMO kind of business? Domestic focus or international? How do you see this business evolving over time?

Let me draw out -- there's 1 major difference. So in CDMO, we work across multiple formulations, right? And hence, it gets a domestic focus, right? APIs are different. We have selective basket of APIs, right? And while the endeavor is to go global, the first step is how can we do right for Indian markets slowly move from the semi-regulated and finally to more regulated markets. So that is there. The idea, as you initially mentioned, the idea is clear that we have to turn this into a profitable venture soon. The key costs, obviously, since the business is small, there is high COGS currently. Then as we gain scale, this business will have improved efficiencies as well as margins, which over the last 3 years, as you could read the numbers, is consistent. This is nothing particular about this quarter. Over the last multiple quarters and years, we have been continuously improving our margins. Since this is a new business, which has extensive R&D orientation, extensive orientation towards seeding the APIs to the formulation players so that they continuously use in their formulation. So it has some gestation period but we are hopeful this will be a good vertical. And honestly, that's the reason why we separate it out from the CDMO business because we feel it's a meaningful business to be reported independently.

Just my -- last question from me. So on your international formulations business again, similarly, can you elaborate on which are the key markets that you're focused on? What could your front-end strategy be in these markets?

So Prashant, we today export to almost 65-odd countries, right? It has a good fair mix of both chronic as well as acute segments. The idea is to build out brands which have a prescription and a brand recall. So we have country managers in a few of the countries which are our priority countries. As of today, we are there in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, covering both East and West, right? We are slowly penetrating into other markets, for example, Middle East, LatAm, then CIS as well. So all of these markets are interesting markets for us. A couple of years back, we also received European approval for 2 of the most important dosage forms. One is the injectable and the oral solids, which is tablet and capsules, right? So we also plan to move to the European markets gradually. We are in a process of filing dossiers. We have already filed 2 dossiers which are there in the public domain. Some are there in the pipeline as well. So the idea is selective markets across continents wherein we can build brand recall and generate good business for the group.

Ladies and gentlemen, as there are no further questions, I would now like to hand the conference over to the management for the closing comments.

So thanks a lot for everyone who has joined in. We really appreciate your time. Looking forward to our next interaction soon. Thank you.

On behalf of AMBIT Capital, that concludes this conference. Thank you all for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines.