Western Carriers (India) Ltd has secured a 15-year concession to develop and operate a General Cargo Terminal at the Kolkata Dock System. The Board also scheduled its 15th Annual General Meeting for September 30, 2026.

The agreement marks a significant expansion in the company’s logistics infrastructure capabilities. The facility will be located at the GCD Yard of the Kolkata Dock System within the Shamaprasad Mookherjee Port in Kolkata.

AGM Schedule Details

The 15th Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 12:30 pm. The meeting will transact business as set out in the AGM Notice, which will be sent electronically to members with registered email addresses. A letter with a weblink will be sent to those without registered emails.

Key dates for the upcoming Annual General Meeting are as follows:

M/s Sharma and Trivedi LLP has been appointed as the Scrutinizer for the voting process. The Register of Members and Share transfer books will remain closed from September 24, 2026, to September 30, 2026, inclusive.

Strategic Expansion

The Board authorized the development and operation of a General Cargo Terminal for handling containers and other cargo under the newly secured 15-year contract. The facility will be located at the GCD Yard of the Kolkata Dock System within the Shamaprasad Mookherjee Port in Kolkata.

As per the Port Authority's initial estimates, the proposed civil infrastructure development is expected to involve an investment of approximately ₹13.68 crore, subject to revision as the project progresses. The terminal is currently operational, and Western Carriers will immediately initiate the next phase of development aimed at enhancing cargo handling capacity, improving operational efficiency and expanding service offerings.

This milestone aligns with the Government of India's ongoing initiatives, including the National Logistics Policy, PM Gati Shakti, Multi Modal Logistics Parks, Bharatmala, Sagarmala, Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC), and the Logistics Efficiency Enhancement Program (LEEP).

Internal Audit Appointment

Mr. Jitendra Agarwal, currently the Head of Accounts & Finance at Western Carriers, was appointed as Internal Auditor effective August 29, 2026. He holds qualifications as a Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary with over 14 years of experience across multiple sectors including FMCG, oil and gas, banking, NBFCs, steel, manufacturing, footwear, infrastructure, and other industrial sectors.

His extensive cross-sector experience provides him with a strong understanding of business processes, financial and operational controls, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and enterprise risk management. The appointment complies with Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

Western Carriers (India) Limited reported a 12% year-on-year rise in revenue to ₹465 crore for the first quarter of FY27, driven by strong domestic container volumes. The Kolkata-based logistics firm delivered ₹19 crore in EBITDA and ₹9 crore in profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.

The company filed its financial results on August 15, 2026, pursuant to Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. Sapna Kochar, Company Secretary & Compliance Officer, digitally signed the disclosure. Newspaper advertisements were published in the Financial Express and Dainik Statesman.

Financial Performance

Revenue from operations stood at ₹465 crore in Q1FY27, compared to ₹416 crore in the same period last year. This growth was supported by healthy customer activity across key business segments, particularly in the domestic stream.

EBITDA for the quarter was ₹19 crore, representing a margin of 4.1%. Profit after tax reached ₹9 crore, up from ₹8 crore in Q4FY26, marking a 13% sequential growth. PAT margins expanded by 20 basis points to 1.9% from 1.7% in the preceding quarter.

Operational Highlights

Container throughput showed significant growth, particularly in the domestic segment. Total container deliveries reached 58,261 TEUs, an increase of nearly 15% year-on-year from 57,084 TEUs in Q1FY26.

• Domestic TEUs: 23,909 TEUs, up 37% YoY from 17,498 TEUs.
• EXIM TEUs: 34,352 TEUs, up 3.2% YoY from 33,286 TEUs.

Total container volumes in Q1FY27 surpassed Q4FY26 figures (57,754 TEUs), marking the first time the company recorded higher Q1 numbers than Q4. The domestic-to-EXIM revenue mix has shifted to approximately 40:60, up from 30:70 about six quarters ago.

Management Commentary

Kanishka Sethia, CEO and CFO, highlighted that despite geopolitical uncertainties and global supply chain disruptions, the company achieved robust growth. He noted that domestic demand remains strong, supported by government infrastructure spending and improving manufacturing capabilities.

Sethia addressed margin pressures stemming from long-term contracts and supply chain disruptions caused by vessel schedule irregularities. He emphasized that the company has pivoted towards domestic revenue streams, which now constitute over 40% of the top line, helping to stabilize profitability.

Working capital metrics improved sequentially. Working capital days reduced from 120 days in Q4FY26 to 111 days in Q1FY27. Debtor days decreased from 139 to 135. Net cash flows were positive at approximately ₹13 crore, compared to ₹9.2 crore in the previous quarter.

Capital Expenditure and Outlook

The company plans a capital expenditure program of approximately ₹100 crore for FY27, focused on specialized equipment, container assets, and multimodal infrastructure. Sethia stated that investments are driven by customer commitments and volume visibility.

Looking ahead, management expects continued growth in domestic logistics, leveraging assets like the Devaliya Multi-Modal Container Terminal (MMCT) in Gujarat. While EXIM volumes remain under stress due to high freight rates and port congestion, the company anticipates a potential rebound in export volumes if global trade conditions stabilize.

What the Numbers Show

The divergence between domestic and EXIM performance highlights Western Carriers' strategic shift. While EXIM volumes grew modestly at 3.2%, domestic volumes surged 37%, reflecting successful diversification away from trade-dependent streams. This shift is corroborated by the changing revenue mix, where domestic contributions rose from 30% to 40% of total business. Furthermore, the improvement in working capital days (from 120 to 111) alongside positive net cash flows suggests effective operational discipline despite macroeconomic headwinds.