HeidelbergCement India Limited (500292) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary
July 24, 2020
Earnings Call Speaker Segments
Operator
operatorLadies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to the HeidelbergCement India Limited Q1 FY '21 Conference Call hosted by PhillipCapital (India) Pvt. Ltd. [Operator Instructions] I now hand the conference over to Mr. Vaibhav Agarwal from PhillipCapital (India) Pvt. Ltd. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Vaibhav Agarwal
analystThank you, Stanford. Good afternoon, everyone. On behalf of PhillipCapital (India) Pvt. Ltd., we welcome you to the Q1 FY '21 conference call for HeidelbergCement India Limited. On the call, we have with us Mr. Jamshed Naval Cooper, Managing Director; and Mr. Anil Sharma, Chief Financial Officer. I would like to mention on behalf of HeidelbergCement India Limited and its management that certain statements that may be made or discussed on this conference call may be forward-looking statements related to future developments and current performance. These statements may be subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, which may cause the actual development and results to differ materially from the statements made. HeidelbergCement India Limited and the management of the company assumes no obligation to update or alter these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise. Also HeidelbergCement India Limited has uploaded a copy of the presentation on the exchange and its website. Participants may download a copy from these websites. I will now hand over the floor to the management of HeidelbergCement for the opening remarks, which will be followed by the Q&A. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveThank you, Vaibhav, and thank you, everybody, for joining this earnings call. Wishing everybody a healthy and a safe time. Times are a little difficult as the environment suggests. Most of the time, we hear every day something or the other from different parts of the country. We pray -- we say that God -- with God's grace, we sail through all this difficult times, and we are back to normal in the years to come. You have received our presentation. I'm just running you through this basic first slide, which is on Slide #3. You have seen the industry development. It's no -- nothing big which has happened in the month of April. It was a total lockdown, and it was but natural that you would have such type of volume degrowth, 85% degrowth. It is nothing big. Coming to May, the things started improving. And in the month of June, things further improved. In terms of capacity utilizations, you will find across the industry that things are ramping up gradually. It will not happen instantly. But yes, the trajectory which it is showing seems to be encouraging. That I can say for the trend. In terms of drawing your attention to the next slide, what is -- what did we do for our business continuity. So we are first more concerned about our employees and the people, including our channel partners. So we are ensuring that these people do our business safely. Our people are safe. The families are safe because going forward, if there is a harm to the human life, then we are not doing justice to our business. So that is our first priority. Safety -- health and safety always remains our topmost priority. And we continuously are communicating with our employees, whether it is at any point of -- where we're located, they are located and including our channel partners, we are in constant touch. Our teams are in constant touch with our business associates, including our transporters and vendors as such. So we are ensuring that, that constant touch is maintained. Work-from-home is a new normal. We started in our head office, and now it is becoming much more of a prevalent practice across. I think the efficiencies have not come down. There is no evidence that we have lost out on any efficiency parameter. So things will become the way it is in the near future. It will -- I think, work-from-home will become a new normal. Safety of our assets, that is the second foremost priority. So when we were asked to lock down, we took a little more time, 3, 4 days to shut down the plant, mothball the plant properly, so that at any point of time we can jump-start our assets and that our team did a very wonderful job. And when we wanted to start the plants at one click of a button and the machines are on and it were rolling. Optimization measures. On cost, we have negotiated many of our contracts with our vendors. We have negotiated many of the terms, including the period of the contracts, whether it was a reduction and those efficiency parameters, whatever -- because everybody understands today's times. And because of our excellent relationships with all the channel partners and vendors, they have been very understanding and forthcoming to support us, and we -- the way we have supported them in the past and we continue to support them now also. On the special focus on working capital management. Cash is king. We worked significantly on this particular parameter. Collections from the market were done at rock -- at rocket speed. And with the -- there were some small minor delays. Our vendors also accepted it. So the cash flow, we have ensured that it was remaining in top-class condition. On -- coming to the remaining as focus into the market and remaining top of mind recall, so we did a digital campaign every day of the lockdown period. The first lockdown period, we were giving out digital snippets on social media or on WhatsApp, and they reached out to our dealers, retailers and everyone, so that we are remaining in constant touch with them. Very relevant topics were covered, which were the need of the hour at that time. On CSR initiatives, we have worked most of the time because the communities around the plant needed support. The people around the markets also needed support. There was a lot of emotional support which was supposed to be given at that point of time. And I'm happy to say that our teams here have risen to that occasion, and they have done a fantastic job of keeping in touch with the people, communicating with them and helping them to be emotionally strong. Coming to the financial and operational highlights. We have a zero lost time injury. So this is our target to have a zero harm -- deliver a company that is zero harm. On the volumes decreased, which was because of the lockdown, we are 100% blended cement company that you are aware of it. On fixed costs, we have focused more and more, and we'll continue to focus as part of our improvement plans. Grid power, which has come down -- dependence has come down to just now 59% to 60%. And this, we will continue to work on in the near future also. So that will be our focus area in future, too. EBITDA. There is an improvement of 1% on the EBITDA, and this is supported more because of the prices. We work on -- now continue to work on a negative working capital. So this is one more feather in the cap of HeidelbergCement India that it achieves this sort of an efficiency despite the most difficult times also. Net cash, we are at INR 1.6 billion. As of 30 June, we are net cash positive. In the -- coming to Page 6 of the presentation, you have seen that there is a 31% drop in volume, almost 32%, and the similar thing is reflected in the EBITDA also. So nothing big because I would say that we should start thinking -- the economic clock, I would say, should be reset. The world economic clock needs to be reset. Rather than talking about what is the loss we will make during the financial year 2021, we should say that this financial year is not of 12 months but it is of 10 months. Probably that will pep up the sentiments also, and we will get a realistic view about things. What is lost for a month, need not crib about it. That is lost forever. We've got to look for a better future and focus more on that. On our Page 7, EBITDA per tonne bridge, which we talk about. So you can see it, how the waterfall has been. GSR has improved, raw material improved, power fuel improved. Little bit negative on the freight, but was but natural because of the rail movement was lower. To a certain extent, rakes were not available by the railways. The road movement had to take place. The market, the prices were going up consistently. So that was the -- that you had to encash that with whatever availability was there. And there were some other costs which took away -- certain costs, which took away the benefit, the gain we had. So anyway -- but then this happens -- but all said and done, that there was always a counterbalance to it. Price was good. Otherwise, we would have had to suffer. So that has not happened, and that will not happen, I suppose, with the industry as such. Coming to the volume share, 52% of our road volume is -- we are catering to our customers through 52% by road and about 14% of our volumes are in this -- our premium bag, quality bag. And mini -- a very small quantity we sell under nontrade. So that we continue to pursue that same strategy because in the COVID times, the one which will get most hit is the nontrade, and it can hit -- it leads to a danger that if you do not come out of this nontrade, only you will bring in bad practices in the business. So we have told our team to be away from these type of things and let us work on a clean system. So on compliances, we are very strong. On the coal, there was a 38% basis -- lower than that. So that has benefited us. On the -- one of the biggest initiatives from a social responsibility point, HeidelbergCement has launched what was the annam scheme. We -- what we have done is for the group -- as a India operations, we decided that for every bag we sell, we will donate INR 1, keep aside, and that will be used to feed the underprivileged by giving them food grains and things like that. So this is one area that -- which we have worked on very seriously. And we hope that -- the biggest risk the country runs today is unemployment, and people -- some people sliding down below the poverty line. And if that happens, that's a very big issue with the -- government will not be able to support all these initiatives. The corporate world has to come forward to support this in some way or the other. Otherwise, we fear that there could be social unrest also. So let us start doing our own bit. And under that scheme, we tried to do this. Coming to our digital media campaign, we have become a little more digital in this last 3, 4 months, and this is one of the document what you are seeing on Page 10. These are some of the initiatives, trying to involve our channel partners, trying to involve our teams, internal teams also, internally also trying to pep up the morale of the people so that this COVID thing -- the clouds of COVID really do not drench us and keep -- lower our morale. Because if the morale is high, then I think everything is good, then everything looks rosy. Coming to outlook. As the outlook is there, demand reduction in urban areas is visible, and we are seeing a good push from the rural markets because Central India, the labor market is little positive. Working capital, on the liquidity side, we, as I mentioned, that it is -- we are good, and we are ensuring that our channel partners are also advised to keep a tap -- track, the way we are looking at the market and we are trying to teach them that how to -- they should also conduct their business in today's times. Reduced availability of trucks and drivers was one of the big challenge, and we are meeting it. We have been able to mitigate. The team has been very, very agile to this, and they have really worked to see that the materials are dispatched on time. Energy prices will remain stable. I don't think there is too much worry on that count. But again, it will depend how things pan out. But because of energy, there was impact on the power plants shutting down at many places and the fly ash was not available. So the fly ash prices went up little bit. Input and raw materials may have to be sourced from longer leads. So that has resulted into those other costs what you are seeing those costs which are up. Manpower availability at railway yards did not allow us to push out rakes many of the times, and whatever rakes went there, they were stuck up. So -- but anyway, the railway was not enforcing or levying demurrages and wharfages so much in the initial stages. So it was a tolerable you can -- system. Optimization on -- all CapEx items, we have optimized it, and we are very tight fisted right now on CapExs. We are just kept on hold every, whether it is a recruitment or a CapEx, it is always -- everything is on hold. The bare minimum essentials we are trying to do. Let me tell you, before I end this, that while you are looking at our results, you will find that we have remained fully compliant. We have not made any provisions which are not required. Neither -- we have kept our systems so updated that whatever is for month-to-month settlements which we are doing, it's an absolutely compliant way of producing the results. That's why you may see -- find that our growths may not be reflected so sharp or something like that. But yes, whatever is, it is there in front of us, and we continue to deliver in the year, months to come also, in the next quarters also. And we are gearing up ourselves in all possible ways because times will remain uncertain and this uncertainty is not going to go out of business. The game today is not the size that matters today. It's the agility, speed and adaptability. That is the critical parameters of our business if we are -- and this is what we are trying to build it in our company that we got to resonate with the times, and we got to -- then only we will be able to tide this storm, which is in front of us. So -- and thank you once again for being with us. And I can answer your questions thereafter. Thank you very much.
Operator
operator[Operator Instructions] The first question is from the line of Dhaval Joshi from Sundaram Mutual Fund.
Dhaval Joshi;Sundaram Mutual Fund
analystJust one question, sir. Quarter-on-quarter, prices have been grown pretty good, I mean, 4% to 5%, if I'm not mistaken in central region per se. Why there has been a bit disappointment in pricing real estate for the quarter?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveThe prices have improved by 2.5%.
Dhaval Joshi;Sundaram Mutual Fund
analyst[Foreign Language] That is a year-on-year. Sir, I'm asking, I mean, in -- even in quarter-on-quarter, prices have been grown pretty well. So is there any more discounts or anything which we are offering to the dealers or something like that? Or in general...
Jamshed Cooper
executiveNo, no. Our prices in the quarter have been very high earlier also. So we have not really tinkered too much with the prices. Whatever we -- our price lines were in the March also, quarter ended was very high.
Dhaval Joshi;Sundaram Mutual Fund
analystYes. Okay. Okay. So -- okay, fine. So you have not taken the price increase the way you actually...
Jamshed Cooper
executive[Foreign Language] See, there is a limit to everything. In the market, it can take beyond. There is a -- in the previous quarter, we were already at a high level. There is a material availability in the market also. It is the -- by increasing the prices further, you are just only inviting competition from neighboring states to come in more and more.
Dhaval Joshi;Sundaram Mutual Fund
analystGot it, got it. Yes. And sir, just one more. What is the current -- I mean, it's too early, but how is the trend now in July, I mean, especially after starting of monsoon in terms of demand only?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveDemand has been okay. I would say, not bad. I would say, the prices are also very stable, not too much of a problem on this account. And I mean right now very recently that we have seen some monsoons entering some places. But the first shower also did not impact the prices. I think the people are wanting cement there. So the demand is there and it's moving, I think. Right now, there is no question of worry. We may see some things happening once the showers are very heavy or something, either/or.
Dhaval Joshi;Sundaram Mutual Fund
analystSo no major drop from June to July, so you're saying?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveNot really.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Rajesh Ravi from HDFC Securities.
Rajesh Ravi
analystCongrats to the team on a good set of numbers. Sir, you explained on the pricing part. Also, if you could explain on the other expenses. What all went into achieving that around 30% reduction on absolute basis Y-o-Y? That would be helpful. And second question would be on -- in terms of though you have put on hold CapEx plans and all. But if at all -- recently, you mentioned that you are exploring some greenfield opportunities. So what would that be?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSo answering your last question first, in terms of our greenfield, we are -- as you said that we are looking at other things which are there available with us in the pipeline. Because of this all lockdown thing, okay, everything has been put to a standstill. The governments are not talking at the moment. There is nobody in the government offices to really talk about these things. So we are just keeping it on hold till such time -- we cannot even travel now, okay? There is a big issue. So when -- even if you have to meet somebody, okay, the other fellow is not available to meet. He's not willing to meet on the other side. So I think we will -- it is little premature. But I think by -- in the next quarter or so, things should be clear, more clearer. So we can -- we will inform you as and when it happens.
Rajesh Ravi
analystYes. No. From a market perspective, which market you are exploring to expand because you have...
Jamshed Cooper
executiveIt is everywhere. Right now -- see the greenfield could happen in the West also one side. If it could happen, it will happen in the West side. But the expansion plans are there. If anything comes in Central, East, wherever it is, we are open to it. On the cost of the -- cost structure, you can explain to...
Anil Sharma
executiveIf we understand correctly, your question is with respect to reduction in cost during this quarter?
Rajesh Ravi
analyst30% reduction which we have received in other expenses on absolute basis INR 86 crore going down to INR 61 crore. We understand there is a volume impact.
Anil Sharma
executiveOkay, this I can tell you.
Rajesh Ravi
analystYes. But what else, which you could control, which led to -- which cushioned the impact -- volume loss impact?
Anil Sharma
executiveSo basically, Mr. Ravi, this other expenditure comprises of the both parts. Some part is linked to variables, some will be fixed. At the variable cost, that is the prorated based on the volume reduction that cost reduced during this quarter. And in the future, whenever the volume increase, that cost will show direct to the year volume. But some of the expenditures are very fixed in nature. And we have taken various measures to optimize during the lockdown. Those expenditures will always be on the radar of the management to optimize and that will continue in future. But now your question is whether this reduction of 30% will be sustainable? The answer is basically, it depends upon the volume development and the situation in the quarter to come, and accordingly, then we can optimize the cost. Yes.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSee, there are -- Ravi, there are certain costs which like in running auxiliaries, essential services, okay? Those things will continue to incur. Only thing that can get diluted when the volumes go up. So they become smaller, look smaller. Otherwise, they will continue to exist with us.
Rajesh Ravi
analystOkay. So on this line only, if I see your FY '19 annual report breakup, so it is like just -- I just want to understand the INR 70 crore, it was commercial stores and spare. So would that be largely a variable cost because your volumes are down? This -- it will fall down largely in a same proportion?
Anil Sharma
executiveIt depends because these stores and spares also, again, comprises of some of expenditure which are fall under the consumables. Those are largely related to volume. But some of the expenditure related to maintenance and those maintenance depend upon the when you took the -- when you take the plant shutdown. And during plant shutdown, then those expenditure you need to incur. These are the, you can say, semi-fixed kind of nature and a little bit changed with the volume, but not prorated based on the volume, this cost can't move either downward or upward.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Bhavin Chheda from Enam Holdings.
Bhavin Chheda
analystSir, in the slide, you have given the industry numbers till May. Any idea on the June numbers? Were they almost flattish Y-o-Y?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveI think should be better.
Bhavin Chheda
analystJune should have been better than last year's 28 million tonne number?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveYear-on-year, yes, yes, I think -- yes, yes, flattish. In Central, it should be a little better.
Bhavin Chheda
analystOkay. Central, it should be a little better. And you mentioned that July, too, also looks to be better purely on a Y-o-Y basis?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveMaybe -- July may be flattish also.
Bhavin Chheda
analystJuly may be flattish. Okay. So...
Jamshed Cooper
executiveBecause monsoons have started now. Now you're getting back to normal.
Bhavin Chheda
analystRight. You're getting back to normal. Okay. So I was just trying to see that industry slide only which you have shared a very interesting slide on a monthly number. So last year, August to October had a big fall. Obviously, one of the reason was the late monsoons and that's the reason that dispatches overall on an India basis were down. But this time, monsoon has been on time and front-ended, so are we also expecting a very big growth number in August, September, October, because obviously some lag impact of shutdown would also be felt as construction activities and all those start picking up in August, September since almost everything also opening up? So could we headed for a stronger type of an environment in August, September, October? How is your feeling like?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveA little mixed feelings here because there are markets which are being sometimes on and off shutdown. Various states and every districts, every -- little bit of uncertainties prevail. But the other good part of the whole thing is that the government is clear about it that the building industry should continue to operate. So this is one good feature which we must always capitalize on this that the government -- earlier when the lockdown happened, they said, everything shut down, okay? Thereafter, they realized that the building industry is a employment generator. So they should not stop it, and they allowed it. And this time also, in many places where the shutdowns are taking place, which we keep hearing from in mark -- where our -- not our plants but in some other places where it has been a shutdown, they have allowed to operate the cement plants and the construction business. So even if you look at in a lockdown situation, during the morning, the cement shops and building materials are opening, okay? They open up in the morning and close down by 11:00 or 12:00. So this is happening. So -- and of course, you must -- we must all appreciate one thing that this construction labor can be deployed at a farm for a certain period. Beyond that, that sustenance cannot happen. So these poor people have to come back for work. They are into a position where they will come back to the construction sites and the construction will continue.
Bhavin Chheda
analystSure. Sure. And is the raw material cost for you, the benefits of the lower coal prices largely captured? Or we would see some more benefit flowing into quarter 2 also?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSo the -- we are going by spot purchases. So right now, whenever the prices are there, we have got a certain stock of about 20, 30 days of stock. So that is not too big a thing to really worry about or make -- we will make a statement...
Bhavin Chheda
analystNo, I'm saying you will see further savings...
Jamshed Cooper
executiveMaybe you can say about INR 10, INR 15 a tonne at best.
Bhavin Chheda
analystOkay. And my last...
Jamshed Cooper
executiveAs expected, the petcoke price also has started inching up in here.
Bhavin Chheda
analystAnd my last question, what is your -- yes, what was your region-wise sales mix in the quarter, in the -- if you can share the state-wise or still...
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSales mix is virtually 85%, we are under trade.
Bhavin Chheda
analystNo, I mean region-wise.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveRegion-wise, I would prefer not to give because of certain competitive issues.
Operator
operator[Operator Instructions] The next question is from the line of Kamlesh Jain from Prabhudas Lilladher.
Kamlesh Bagmar
analystSir, if I see your volumes, it has fallen by roughly around 32%. Even if we see pan-India presence companies, their volumes have fallen 33%, 34%. And your market, like the central region, has the least impacted because of the COVID. So despite that, we have a fall of 32%. So I know that April was entirely lockdown. But even in May and June, like, say, your regional peers have done far better as compared to us. So what had been the case? Like they have been -- have we been little bit late in terms of like restarting the plants or restarting the dispatches?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSee, Kamlesh, it was not the plants which had a limitation, it was the logistics which had a limitation, okay? So it was the market reach. If your trucks are going to get held up on the roads and police is not going to allow them and there was a lot of restrictions which were happening. So we sell into certain markets -- maybe our -- we did not -- we were not able to load many rakes also, okay? So that is also one of the reasons our dispatches could come -- came down. Because loading rakes was also not becoming a viable solution for us because the material was not getting sold after reaching. So we said wherever the material we are getting advanced payments in cash down, let us sell in those markets. But I don't think we did badly on this. Let more numbers come in and you will see that how others have also panned out. I'm very clear about it that Heidelberg has done relatively -- or should have done relatively better. And I don't know, I can't comment on others, but yes, we'll see, let the results come in more and more.
Anil Sharma
executiveBut one thing is that, Kamlesh, we can add here that when we are comparing the volume development on year-on-year basis, we are comparing with the June 2019, and luckily, June 2019 was the highest sale in that quarter by this company. So maybe -- it may be a little bit misleading if we compare the volume in percentage, in a few tonnes if you see, I think it will be comparable. But like MD sir said that let us wait for the more result of the cement companies, and then we will understand how fairly this company has done during COVID-19 and difficult situation.
Kamlesh Bagmar
analystAnd sir, secondly, we have increased our volumes by -- our capacity by 20-odd percent through debottlenecking. So as the market expands, so would we be focused to expand the volumes at the cost of lower realization? Because over the last 3, 4 years, our volumes have grown by hardly 1-odd percent. I know that there were capacity constraints, but even now with -- like the now we have 20% additional capacity available, around 1 million tonne. So would we be like, say, pushing the volumes at lower realizations? Or we would be like, say, happy with having higher prices and higher mix in margins?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveIf you want to gain 10% volume -- additional volume, and if you have to cut down the prices by 7%, it is not going to work. So I can do a battle and I will lose on 90% also. So I think getting market share at a -- is -- for us, the target is very simple that to get market share. If we are getting a premium brand, premium positioning and a premium pricing, only then we are going to go increase it because this is a gradual slow story, but it is a permanent change.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Sumedha Srinivasan from ICICI Prudential Asset Management.
Sumedha Srinivasan;ICICI Prudential Asset Management
analystSir, you had mentioned that grid usage is about 59%, 60%, which would gradually go down in the future. So is there any plans of any wastage recovery plant set up or any renewable sources, solar or wind or anything?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSo we are looking at solar, and we are looking at also third-party outsourcing. We will keep increasing our share of outsourced power.
Anil Sharma
executiveBut at the same time, on your question with respect to wastage recovery, just to inform you that we have already installed wastage recovery power plant in the year 2016. So that is already there. And now we are working on the renewal energy.
Sumedha Srinivasan;ICICI Prudential Asset Management
analystAny increase in capacity in wastage recoveries plant?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveNo. At the moment, we are not adding any kiln. So it is right now the optimum what we can utilize. On 3 kiln basis, it is right now optimum.
Sumedha Srinivasan;ICICI Prudential Asset Management
analystOkay. And solar, is there any -- I mean, by when would it be coming up, the solar plant?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveIt is under -- it is in progress. It is -- the work has held up because of this COVID situation. The contractors are not able to complete the job.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Navin Sahadeo from Edelweiss Securities.
Navin Sahadeo
analystCongratulations on maintaining the high EBITDA per tonne despite the challenging environment. Sir, I had questions. One is on the current run rate. So given that Bihar is a sizable sales exposure that the company has and also the COVID situation as well as floods that we keep seeing in the media, so are we seeing any major drop in volumes from that particular state? Because I could -- as you said, Central could be possibly, by and large, steady, as you said, I think in the previous question. But in one of the states where we supply, Bihar seeing a major impact?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveNavin, for us, Bihar is hardly anything. We hardly sell any material there. Not for us.
Navin Sahadeo
analystOkay. Okay. Okay. No, I thought maybe that could be a potential player.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveNavin, for us, it is a very, very -- virtually negligible, I would say.
Navin Sahadeo
analystOkay. And sir, my second question then was on prices. If I compare with, let's say, the March quarter, our trade sales have gone up from 85% to 89%. Also, there is some increase in the share of premium cement. So given that the sequential increase in realizations, which is a little under 2%, and the kind of hikes that we were at least hearing from the market, it seems a little on the lower side. I know one of the participants did ask that. But I just wanted to -- I understand this because there is an improvement on the trade side also, also in the premium side. So are we missing anything? Is there more discounts? Or what could be the challenge, sir?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveNo, I don't think we are missing out anything. We are -- as far as our provisions and discounts are concerned, I can assure you one thing that we will never keep a provision or we will not delay a provision ever, okay? Whatever is there, it is upfront. It is given in the month, and it is distributed and put into the ledgers every month. So there will be no surprises in the future. I can only say that much. As far as our prices are concerned, you can check out from the market at the retail counter level, okay? They are on the upper side. Maybe there is -- sometimes, it happens that certain costs go up, but the discounts, no way they are gone up. There is some catching up, some other brands would have done some catching up on aligning their discount structure, that's why you might be finding some changes in that.
Navin Sahadeo
analystOkay. And sir, just one more question, if I may, please. Is solar power now the next development you're looking at from a cost efficiency perspective? And if yes, then how much is -- it is like the difference between, let's say, the costs from solar visualized versus the grid power?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSo Navin, right now, we are looking at a 5-megawatt sort of a thing putting up in the Central India plant. And we are exploring other possibilities to put up something more here and there, also basically on 2 counts. One is also the futuristic view on compliance, number one, futuristic view on CO2 footprint, which we are working on. So we have that -- what will be our -- we have made our road map for 2030, and we are pursuing that with the angle view of that we have to come down our CO2 content per kg of cement as to per tonne of cement has to come down significantly lower than what it -- although we are today 100% blended cement company and our CO2 content is quite low, I would say, compared to many of -- on Indian standard basis. But yes, there is a -- we are still saying that, okay, we can do still better, and we will achieve that.
Operator
operator[Operator Instructions] The next question is from the line of Gaurav Rateria from Morgan Stanley.
Gaurav Rateria
analystSir, 2 questions. Firstly, any color on what the demand drivers are right now? Do you break your entire region into like top 10, top 15 cities and the rest of the other regions? And is there any divergence in the demand pattern you are seeing across that?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveYes. So Gaurav, we follow this very closely, and we follow the tier system of where we sell, where we don't sell. And there is clear-cut indication that what we sold in Q4, what we sold in Tier -- not -- since Central India don't have metros, but in Tier 1, 2 and 3-tier cities, the sales has come down, and it has moved to Tier 5, 6 and villages. It -- there has been a step-up in those areas. So I won't be able to give you the right numbers right now. But yes, we are monitoring it month after month and how this planning is taking place and what are the resources that will be required to cater to such type of demands which are there. So the team is constantly on top of it.
Gaurav Rateria
analystOkay. Sir, just a data -- bookkeeping question. The increase in diesel prices, is that currently already in your cost structure or it's likely to reflect in the coming quarter? And secondly, on the power cost side, what is the differential between grid power cost, let's say, versus the third-party sourcing and WHR of INR 0.52?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveOn the side of -- you asked one question was...
Anil Sharma
executiveDiesel price.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveDiesel price. See, diesel price is already passed on into the system, and it is already part of the freight structure, already there. We have a system that the moment the freight changes beyond a certain percentage, we have a understanding with our transporters that, that factor is immediately calculated and given to them automatic. So if it reduces, it is automatic. And if it increases, also it is automatic. So it takes place within 3 days of the change. So that has happened already. The other question you asked was...
Anil Sharma
executiveBasically W -- price difference between WHR almost, you can say.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveWill be this third-party source. Third-party source at least to INR 1.50.
Anil Sharma
executiveYes.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveINR 1.50 would be the difference.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Ritesh Shah from Investec Capital.
Ritesh Shah
analystSir, my first question is, how did the lead distance pan out in Q4 versus Q1?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveMinor increase by about 10 kilometers or so.
Ritesh Shah
analystOkay. And sir, just a continuation to this question, when the demand conditions are tough, typically based on your experience, does the lead distance increase or reduce for the industry? Typically what should happen?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveIt depends. I think gradually, it will -- it should stay at the place where it is because the markets where you are selling, they are not changing, okay? Unless you are closer to a metro city and then you are not selling in those metro cities and then you have to move out to long distance leads, then it's a different thing. So there will be some changes, which will happen in the -- realignment on freights will happen, okay? Because there's the one question which was asked by Gaurav in terms of how this demand has changed. So now you're getting into rural markets, okay? So those minor changes will be there.
Ritesh Shah
analystOkay. And sir, my second question is -- hello?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveYes. Yes. Go ahead.
Ritesh Shah
analystSir, my second question is, normally, we have annual incentives, which we give out to dealers. Is that usually accounted in Q1 when it comes to P&L? So how does the accounting work? Sir, I think there were a couple questions on pricing. So I was just trying to relate to it. Was that one of the variables? Just trying to understand that, sir.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSo in terms of annual discounts, we have not confirmed that ever there, if at all we give, okay? It is not given every year also. It is dependent on the management, whether it wants to give or not give. And whenever it is given, then it is booked at that point of time. And these are not very big amounts, some very fancy amounts are there that you -- it will disturb your P&L badly.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Gunjan Prithyani from JPMorgan.
Gunjan Prithyani
analystMost of my questions have been answered. I just have 1 or 2 follow-up. On the demand side, you mentioned that it's essentially the Tier 4, Tier 5 or rural, which is driving the demand. Has there been any change in the government spending on infra or that PMAYG scheme that you have seen? Is that kind of CapEx also coming back to the market now?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveYes, it is. See, it's coming back. Right now, we can see that. But again, it has taken a little bit of a pause because some of the disbursement of money is not happening from these projects and the contractors have, again, taken a little bit of backseat. I think it might take another 15, 20 days, they will come back to the market.
Gunjan Prithyani
analystSir, if I -- I mean, my -- the idea I'm trying to essentially get is that, let's say, if some of these larger cities because of rising COVID cases or lockdowns may not see a come back immediately and plus the labor issues. You are feeling reasonably confident that given the momentum that we've seen in some of the smaller cities in rural markets, plus the government program, we should be reasonably able to match the demand of last year for the remainder of the year. What's lost is lost, I get that point. But for the remainder of the year, is that the sense you're getting when you're looking at the market environment?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSo that is the -- also there are very diverse opinions in the industry. But we are clear about it that we somehow got to manage and retain the positions what we have in our markets in our own places. And without really having -- without having to bleed or anywhere in terms of prices because prices is not something which is negotiable now with us. So we will try to see that our volumes don't get impacted anywhere. Now the only effort is on the volume side. We have to meet that.
Operator
operator[Operator Instructions] The next question is from the line of Raghav Maheshwari from Asian Markets Securities.
Raghav Maheshwari;Asian Markets Securities
analystSir, what percentage of your dispatches are directly to dealer from the plant?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveOkay. So it is close to, you can say, almost 70% -- 65% to 70% -- 60%. In Central India, it is close to about 8 -- in Madhya Pradesh, it will be close to 80%.
Raghav Maheshwari;Asian Markets Securities
analystOkay. This is directly for the -- directly to the dealers? Bypassing the godowns and the C&F?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveYes. Yes. So basically, the -- it is -- the invoicing happens at the warehouse, but the material straight goes into the shop of the dealer from the plant.
Raghav Maheshwari;Asian Markets Securities
analystSir, this is general situation or this is COVID situation?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveNo, no. It is -- this is our strength.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Sanjay Nandi from Ratnabali Investments.
Sanjay Nandi;Ratnabali Investments
analystCan you just share the, like, production status in the first month of July compared to July '19 last year, any sort of guidance, sir?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveRight now, I can't comment on that. The plants are running the way in normal course, the way they were running ever in the month of June, the way they were running right now, they are also running the same manner. Business is as usual, I don't think any major change.
Sanjay Nandi;Ratnabali Investments
analystAnd sir, what percentage of rural demand comes from our total demand? Like you said, like we're catering to the rural segment as a whole. So out of this total volume, so what percentage comes from the rural side, sir?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveAbout 35%, 40%.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Rishith Shah from Dhanki Securities.
Rishith Shah;Dhanki Securities
analystSo one question would be like for the quarter gone by, what is the per kilocalorie cost of coal as well as petcoke?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveCoal and petcoke combination is close to our fuel cost, I would say, is 1.3 gigajoules -- 1.3 kilocalories.
Rishith Shah;Dhanki Securities
analystOkay, sir. And just as you said earlier, so there was an increase in the fly ash cost due to the increase in the procure distance from distance, right?
Jamshed Cooper
executivePardon?
Rishith Shah;Dhanki Securities
analystSo there is an increase in the fly ash cost due to the increase in the lead distance. Sir, if you can quantify this increase?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveAbout INR 150 or so.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Pritesh Sheth from Edelweiss Wealth.
Pritesh Sheth;Edelweiss Wealth
analystMost of my questions are answered. But just one question on the volume front, and this is more so for the industry. I want to understand how much of the March produced volumes are reflected in this current quarter? So basically, yes, the volumes which were produced in March, but you couldn't sell because of sudden lockdown. So how much of that would have been reflected in April?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveThat was -- see, that we could -- we should have sold in the month of March, we sold at least about 1,50,000 tonnes less, okay? We should have sold because when 23rd, the maximum volumes in March and these things, they happened during the last 10 days of the month. So we lost close to about 1,50,000 tonnes of volume during that period.
Anil Sharma
executiveIf your question is with respect to inventory changes, if you see our P&L, it was significant. Even the total amount is INR 22 million in our P&L of the June. So there is no significant change of the inventory of cement from March to June, and we generally do not carry significant amount of cement inventory in warehouse.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSo we had only just about 35,000 tonnes of cement in the warehouse as of -- in the month of March. And as I said, that when everything moves for us, most of it moves directly to the plant -- from the plant to the customer, so you lose out on stocking. So it does -- it makes the same thing here.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Amit Murarka from Motilal Oswal.
Amit Murarka
analystSo my question was around cost. So in this quarter, there has been a substantial reduction in cost, both on employee as well as in other expenses. So I just wanted to understand, like, which are the areas the cost reduction has come from? And also, like, is this -- I mean, is this only a temporary reduction or, I mean, what is the split between temporary and structural reduction in this cost?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSo in the month, there will be some voluntary deduction which has taken place, reduction in the manpower cost, some -- because of the circumstances, and it is a temporary change. It is not -- and going forward, only, we will decide whether these changes will be long term or not. But at the moment, it was a very, very short term. For the time being, our people volunteered to take a small cut here and there, and that's what is reflected down here.
Amit Murarka
analystAnd on the other expenses side, even where the decline was quite sharp. So I understand that travel would have gone down. I think promotional spends have been low across the industry. But beyond that, if there has been any other reductions?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveI think because of the advertising spends have to go down because you can't do anything but where do you advertise. So you can't venture out into the market. So there is nothing there. And going forward, we'll have to just -- some spending will happen in the near -- in the second and the next quarters, 3 quarters.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Sumangal Nevatia from Kotak Securities.
Sumangal Nevatia
analystI just missed the CapEx number for the year. And one -- and the second part is now since our major CapEx is behind us, we start accumulating cash. Is there any consideration to increase the dividend payouts or to help preserve for future expansion?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveI think we have given a very -- recommended a very good dividend, I think, better than the -- I think this will be the one of the highest dividends we have recommended. So far, it is an -- it is a progressive, I would say, the trend has been progressive. I think we should contain ourselves with this -- once the -- yes, of course, it is dependent on the shareholders approving it at the AGM. I think we should -- would not expect too much at this juncture. But yes, later on, we'll see later on, let the Board -- these are prerogatives of the Board.
Anil Sharma
executiveAnd Sumangal, replying to your question on the CapEx side, we always follow the principle of carrying out the replacement and sustainable CapEx on continuous basis. Generally, we follow that it should be in the range of around 40% of our annual depreciation. And during current year also, we continue with the same policy so that there should not be any lag effect in the future year. If you defer some CapEx today, ultimately, then the next year, you need to incur more. So we decided that we will continue with the -- our CapEx plan during the fiscal year 2021 as we do in past.
Sumangal Nevatia
analystSo around INR 40 crores, INR 50 crores will be from there? And anything else this year, I mean, we start spending towards solar, et cetera?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveI don't think right now. The solar is something which is not a CapEx item because it is going to be on a BO -- like BOT sort of a thing arrangement. So it will be -- the vendor will be supplying us with the power for 25 years at a certain fixed price.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Dhaval Joshi from Sundaram Mutual Fund.
Dhaval Joshi;Sundaram Mutual Fund
analystYes. Sir, just one basic question, sir, on pricing. At which price level, I mean per bag, do you see that competition might come from the other states, approx?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSo Dhaval, this -- right now, also, we are loaded with -- at this price also, there is an overload of supplies which is coming from outside. So it's a very heavy feeling about it, not something competitive.
Dhaval Joshi;Sundaram Mutual Fund
analystOkay. Or let's put it this way, I mean, what is your -- I mean, Q1 -- sorry, yes, so this quarter on an average pricing per bag, roughly around? I mean, best brands, I mean the top 1, top 2, top 3 brands?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveI don't -- the average would be about INR 365 to INR 370.
Operator
operatorLadies and gentlemen, due to time constraints, we will be taking the last 2 questions. We take the question from the line of Prateek Kumar from Antique Stockbroking.
Prateek Kumar
analystSir, just touching base on pricing, I think you answered it -- that you suggested that there's flat pricing as of now in current month. So sir, how has the prices fallen or behaved from the peak which we had in May in your market?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSo that time, that was an artificial pricing because just it went up beyond INR 400, INR 420, INR 430 also in certain markets, it went up. But it was not sustainable because once the -- more material which started coming from the neighboring states, that pulled it down to back to -- bring it down to about this INR 365, INR 370 range. The prices right now in the market, if you look at the bandwidth. Is very huge, okay? So you can get cement in Central India as low as INR 280 to INR 380 and INR 390 and INR 400 also.
Prateek Kumar
analystAll right. And sir, similarly, on fuel prices, what would be average fuel price, which we have had like in Q1? In terms of...
Jamshed Cooper
executiveAbout INR 350-odd.
Anil Sharma
executiveFuel price only.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveFuel price only.
Anil Sharma
executiveINR 1.36 per kilocalorie. It is the availed price.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveINR 1.36 per CB.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Pulkit Patni from Goldman Sachs.
Pulkit Patni
analystJust trying to understand demand coming from Tier 3, Tier 4 cities and mostly from the trade segment. Now when you have demand coming from nontrade, there is a sense of continuity because it goes into a project which will last for 28 months or 36 months versus this rural demand which can come very quickly and also part of it disappear very quickly. Sir, just to get a sense, how do you look at the right mix? And do you think that this kind of rural demand that is coming right now because lot of money is getting thrown at rural projects, NREGA. Is this something that you think could actually sustain for a longer period? What would be your qualitative comments on that?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveSo you asked me that if you look at traditionally history of cement industry, retail demand has never vanished, okay? It is always -- which has taken an upswing and downing is the nontrade segment. So if that answers your question, then -- normally, invariably, we have seen that across the country, you look at it, it's the nontrade which fluctuates. The government investments -- government investment is close to about 20% -- 15% to 20% of the demand which is on infrastructure which is coming in. That takes a big swing. And 15% to 20%, if that happens, and then it will affect the indirect other channels. So you have these other builder segments and things like that. So you can say about 30% of your business is always at risk if you are into a bigger quantum of nontrade depending on your percentage of nontrade.
Operator
operatorThe next question is from the line of Chintan Sheth from Sameeksha Capital.
Chintan Sheth
analystOnly one question on the Mysore Cements. As we -- as the management is already consulting and managing the day-to-day operations there in terms of guidance, any plans strategically to merge that business with us?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveMysore, which one? Mysore is already...
Chintan Sheth
analystMysore Cements. That is the sister concern of Heidelberg -- second...
Jamshed Cooper
executiveThat is Zuari. Zuari. You are talking about Zuari, not Mysore Cements. Okay.
Chintan Sheth
analystYes, sorry, Zuari.. Yes, yes Zuari. Sorry, sorry, sorry.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveZuari right now a stand-alone company. Right now, it does not really making sense to merge these 2 companies because it is not going to add any value to the shareholders. But the day when we see that it can add some value to our shareholders, we will definitely take it a look.
Chintan Sheth
analystBut there are some synergies in the southern plant where -- in terms of cost as well as market which can increase the overall size of the business and then derive the benefit of scale?
Jamshed Cooper
executiveThat does not -- I mean these are 2 different geographies. It does not really bring in too much of synergies. Whatever the synergies in terms of operational efficiencies were there, they have been complied with. They have been implied in both the companies. So the benefits of both these companies now -- they operate at a certain level of operational excellence, whereby those synergies have already been harvest. But in terms of market synergies, we will not get anything.
Anil Sharma
executiveSo I think, Chintan, we need to see this question from the government regulatory point of view also because there are 2 regulation or the law which is also -- has big role to play for taking this decision. One is the shareholding pattern because the Zuari Cement is the 100% held by the group and in the listed company, SCR, which is around 70%. And regulation doesn't allow more than 75% shareholding by the promoter, which is the one hiccup at this moment. And second thing is the more related to cost side, the current MMDR rate doesn't allow transfer of mines or the change of mining name at this moment, and if we go for that thing, then you need to pay additional 80% royalty amount, which is a direct cost to the company. So we don't foresee at this moment considering the 2 regulation that it is beneficial for the shareholder in large to merge those companies.
Operator
operatorLadies and gentlemen, that was the last question. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Vaibhav Agarwal for closing comments.
Vaibhav Agarwal
analystYes. Thank you. On behalf of PhillipCapital, I would like to thank the management of HeidelbergCement for the call and also many thanks to the participants for joining the call. You may now conclude the call, Stanford. Thank you very much, sir.
Jamshed Cooper
executiveThank you.
Anil Sharma
executiveThank you.
Operator
operatorThank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of PhillipCapital (India) Pvt. Ltd., that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines.
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