Ellenbarrie Q1FY27 profit up 87% to ₹350 cr; guides 40% EBITDA margin
Ellenbarrie Industrial Gases posted Q1FY27 net profit of ₹350 crore, up 87% YoY, driven by higher utilization at new plants. Revenue rose 18% to ₹987 crore. Management guided for ₹450 crore capex over FY27-FY28 for new merchant plants and targets long-term EBITDA margins of 40%+. Argon prices are recovering but remain below H1FY26 levels.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
ellenbarrie industrial gases delivered a strong start to FY27, reporting an 87% year-on-year jump in net profit to ₹350 crore in Q1FY27. The company’s revenue rose 18% to ₹987 crore, supported by the ramp-up of recently commissioned merchant plants in Kurnool and Uluberia 2. During the earnings conference call held on August 10, 2026, management emphasized that the growth was primarily operational, stemming from higher capacity utilization and disciplined cost control rather than one-off items.
Financial Performance at a Glance
The company’s financial results for Q1FY27 reflect significant improvement across key metrics compared to the previous year and the preceding quarter.
| Metric: | Q1FY27 | Q1FY26 (YoY) | Q4FY26 (QoQ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue: | ₹987 crore | ₹836 crore (+18%) | ₹874 crore (+13%) |
| EBITDA: | ₹387 crore | ₹318 crore (+21%) | ₹258 crore (+50%) |
| EBITDA Margin: | 39% | 38% | 30% |
| Net Profit: | ₹350 crore | ₹187 crore (+87%) | ₹229 crore (+53%) |
Note: Existing article cited EBITDA of ₹376 crore; earnings call transcript confirms ₹387 crore.
Operational Drivers and Margin Expansion
Revenue from core gases and related products stood at ₹973 crore, up 20% year-on-year. The growth was driven by higher volumes from merchant plants and improved capacity utilization. Management noted that oxygen and nitrogen prices remain stable due to long-term contractual arrangements, while argon prices have seen a modest sequential recovery, although they remain below H1FY26 levels.
EBITDA margin expanded to 39% from 38% in Q1FY26 and 30% in Q4FY26. Varun Agarwal, Joint Managing Director, attributed the margin expansion to the commissioning of newer, more energy-efficient plants, which consume less power per unit of gas produced. The company also benefited from lower finance costs and a lower effective tax rate.
Capital Expenditure and Capacity Expansion
Ellenbarrie outlined a capital expenditure guidance of ₹250 crore for FY27 and ₹200 crore for FY28, totaling ₹450 crore over the two years. This investment is allocated towards two new merchant plants:
- One plant in North India
- One plant in West Central India
Together, these plants will have a cumulative capacity of approximately 450 to 500 tons per day (TPD). Construction has already begun on these sites. Additionally, a new on-site plant in East India with a capacity of 320 TPD is currently being commissioned and is expected to contribute revenue from Q2FY27.
What the Numbers Show
The divergence between the existing article’s EBITDA figure (₹376 crore) and the management’s disclosed figure (₹387 crore) highlights the importance of primary source verification. More significantly, the management’s guidance for long-term EBITDA margins of 40% or higher signals confidence in the structural demand-supply balance for industrial gases, particularly argon. With legacy plants fully utilized and new capacity coming online, the company is positioned to leverage operating leverage as volumes scale, reducing the impact of volatile argon pricing on overall profitability.
Strategic Outlook
Management indicated that steel accounts for one-third of revenue, with non-steel sectors contributing the remaining two-thirds. The inquiry pipeline for on-site plants remains robust, with multiple inquiries above 600 TPD capacity. For merchant plants, the company follows a strategy of surveying micro-markets for demand-supply gaps rather than securing advance contracts, with a typical ramp-up period of 18 to 24 months to reach 80-90% utilization. The company is also exploring opportunities in electronic specialty gases (ESG), though it views this as a trading business with lower margins compared to manufacturing.
Historical Stock Returns for Ellenbarrie Industrial Gases
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +4.08% | +19.95% | +13.83% | +34.96% | -34.96% | -36.96% |
How might the 18-24 month ramp-up period for the new North and West Central India merchant plants impact Ellenbarrie's cash flow and EBITDA margins in FY27-FY28?
Given the strategic focus on non-steel sectors (two-thirds of revenue), which specific emerging industries are expected to drive volume growth as steel demand fluctuates?
Will the company's exploration of electronic specialty gases (ESG) remain strictly a low-margin trading activity, or could it evolve into a higher-value manufacturing vertical in the long term?


































