UltraTech Cement delivered its strongest-ever first-quarter performance in FY27, reporting a net profit (PAT) of ₹2,604 crore, a 17.2% increase over the same period last year. The Mumbai-based cement major achieved this growth amidst global energy disruptions, leveraging double-digit volume expansion and operational efficiencies. Domestic grey cement volumes rose 13.1% year-on-year, while capacity utilization improved to 81% from 76% in the prior year period, reflecting robust demand across infrastructure, housing, and urban real estate segments.

The company’s EBITDA grew 12% to ₹5,146 crore, marking the highest-ever EBITDA for an April-June quarter. Revenues expanded by 16%, buoyed by constructive pricing trends and a shift towards premium blended cement products. CFO Atul Daga highlighted that operating EBITDA per ton remained steady above ₹1,200, demonstrating cost discipline despite sharp increases in imported fuel costs due to the West Asia conflict. The company successfully absorbed fuel price shocks while growing absolute EBITDA, aided by structural buffers such as green power generation meeting 47% of total power requirements.

Key Financial Metrics

A significant driver of this quarter’s success was the completion of brand migration for acquired assets India Cements and Kesoram. These brands, previously operating in lower-tier categories, have been fully converted to the UltraTech brand, allowing customers to pay a price premium for A-category quality. This strategy contributed to a 21.3% growth in brand-specific volumes. India Cements showed sequential improvement in EBITDA per ton, climbing from ₹386 in Q2FY26 to ₹603 in Q1FY27, supported by cost-improvement capex of ₹2,000 crore and enhanced green power usage.

Capacity Expansion and Capex

UltraTech’s domestic capacity reached 200.1 million tons following the commissioning of 8.7 million tons of new capacity at Shahjahanpur, Visakhapatnam, and Patratu during the quarter. Total consolidated capacity stands at 205.5 million tons. The company is executing a capex program of approximately ₹17,000 crore over the next 2 to 2.5 years, aiming to expand consolidated capacity beyond 242 million tons by the end of FY28. All expansions are backed by secured limestone reserves, ensuring no raw material constraints.

Green power infrastructure continues to strengthen, with renewable capacity reaching 1,897 megawatts, including 71 MW of new renewables and 19 MW of waste heat recovery systems commissioned in Q1. The company aims to reach 2.5 to 3 gigawatts of renewable power shortly. Financial health remains robust, with net debt-to-EBITDA ratio improving to 0.87x from 0.94x at the start of the year, funded entirely by internal accruals.

What the Numbers Show

The divergence between UltraTech’s volume growth (13.1%) and the estimated industry growth (7-8%) signals accelerating market share gains. While peers face pressure from input cost inflation, UltraTech’s ability to maintain stable per-ton earnings through premiumization and operational leverage highlights a widening competitive moat. The successful conversion of legacy brands into high-margin UltraTech sales suggests that margin expansion may continue even if headline prices stabilize, as the product mix shifts towards higher-value offerings.

Looking ahead, management expects Q2FY27 to be optically softer due to seasonal monsoon slowdowns and ongoing cost pressures from the West Asia crisis, estimating an additional cost impact of ₹130–₹140 per ton. However, the long-term trajectory remains positive, with a new cables and wires business slated for launch in Q3FY27. The company reaffirms its commitment to returning all operating cash flows to growth initiatives and shareholder dividends.

UltraTech Cement 's Finance Committee approved a proposal to raise funds aggregating up to Rs 5,000 crore through the issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs). The committee evaluated and finalized the terms for the private placement, which aims to bolster the company's financial resources. The approval marks the execution of the fund-raising plan previously authorized by the Board of Directors.

The proposed instrument involves the issuance of up to 5,00,000 fully paid, unsecured, listed, rated, redeemable, and rupee-denominated non-convertible, non-cumulative debentures. Each debenture will have a face value of Rs 1,00,000. The funds will be raised in one or more tranches, providing flexibility in execution based on market conditions and requirements.

Key Details of the Issue

The following table outlines the key features of the NCD issuance approved by the Board:

The intimation regarding the outcome was submitted to BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited in compliance with Regulation 30 and 51 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. Dhiraj Kapoor, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, signed the disclosure on behalf of UltraTech Cement.