Tata Chemicals Q3FY26 Results: Loss Widens to ₹690M Amid Soda Ash Market Pressures
Tata Chemicals' Q3FY26 results showed widened losses due to challenging soda ash market conditions with oversupply and pricing pressures. Despite consolidated performance decline, standalone operations showed resilience with volume growth and cost management. The company approved strategic investments including ₹515 crore for salt facility expansion and acquired Novabay Singapore to strengthen bicarbonate market position.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Tata Chemicals has published its Q3FY26 quarterly results in leading newspapers following the Board of Directors' approval on February 2, 2026. The chemical manufacturer reported a consolidated net loss of ₹690 million compared to a loss of ₹210 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, while revenue from operations declined to ₹3,550 crore from ₹3,590 crore year-on-year.
Financial Performance Overview
The company's third-quarter results demonstrate challenging operational conditions across key financial metrics. The consolidated net loss widened significantly, while revenue experienced a marginal decline during the reporting period.
| Financial Metric: | Q3 FY26 | Q3 FY25 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consolidated Net Loss: | ₹690 million | ₹210 million | Loss widened by ₹480 million |
| Revenue from Operations: | ₹3,550 crore | ₹3,590 crore | Declined by 1% |
| EBITDA: | ₹345 crore | ₹434 crore | Declined by ₹89 crore |
| EBITDA Margin: | 9.72% | 12.09% | Compressed by 237 basis points |
Management Commentary on Market Conditions
During the earnings conference call held on February 2, 2026, R. Mukundan, Managing Director & CEO, provided detailed insights into the challenging market environment. He stated that soda ash markets continue to remain oversupplied, with high inventory levels across most regions. Prices softened further during Q3FY26, reflecting adverse demand-supply dynamics.
The company highlighted that global soda ash demand growth remains tepid and flat in the near term, constrained by weak macroeconomics in Southeast Asia and parts of Asia. This has been primarily driven by export restrictions and constraints in one of the biggest markets in the U.S.
| Market Conditions: | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Global Inventory Levels: | Elevated across regions |
| China Inventory: | 1.5 million tonnes |
| Chinese Price Decline: | 54% between Q3FY23 and Q3FY26 |
| Current China Domestic Price: | CNY 1,200 |
Standalone Performance Highlights
Despite market headwinds, the company's standalone performance was supported by higher volumes and disciplined cost management. The standalone revenue from operations stood at ₹1,204 crore, up 3% compared to Q3FY25 due to higher volumes.
| Standalone Metrics: | Q3 FY26 | Q3 FY25 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue from Operations: | ₹1,204 crore | ₹1,169 crore | Up 3% |
| EBITDA: | ₹228 crore | ₹209 crore | Up 9% |
| PAT (before exceptional items): | ₹87 crore | ₹72 crore | Up 21% |
Strategic Investments and Capacity Expansions
The Board approved significant investments to strengthen the company's position in growing markets. A major investment of ₹515 crore was approved for setting up a greenfield manufacturing facility for Iodised Vacuum Salt Dried (IVSD) at Valinokkam, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, with a capacity of 210 kilo tonnes per annum.
| Investment Details: | Specifications |
|---|---|
| IVSD Facility Investment: | ₹515 crore |
| Capacity: | 210 KTPA |
| Location: | Valinokkam, Tamil Nadu |
| Timeline: | 36 months |
During the quarter, the company commissioned Pearl Silica facility with a capacity of 3,000 MTPA at Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, and FOS L55 facility with a capacity of 4,500 MTPA at Mambattu. The Board also approved a 50 kilo tonne per annum precipitated silica expansion at Cuddalore at an investment of ₹775 crore.
Exceptional Items and Regulatory Impact
The company recorded exceptional items totaling ₹54 crore during the quarter related to the implementation of new Labour Codes notified by the Government of India. These codes consolidate existing labour laws and primarily impact gratuity liability calculations due to changes in wage definitions.
Nine-Month Performance Analysis
For the nine months ended December 31, 2025, the company reported revenue from operations of ₹11,146 crore, down by 2% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. EBITDA stood at ₹1,531 crore compared to ₹1,626 crore in 9MFY25.
| Nine-Month Metrics: | FY26 (9M) | FY25 (9M) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue from Operations: | ₹11,146 crore | ₹11,378 crore | Declined by 2% |
| EBITDA: | ₹1,531 crore | ₹1,626 crore | Declined by ₹95 crore |
| Profit After Tax (before exceptional items): | ₹520 crore | ₹491 crore | Increased by ₹29 crore |
Strategic Acquisitions and Market Positioning
The company announced the acquisition of Novabay Singapore on December 19, entering into a share purchase agreement. This acquisition strengthens Tata Chemicals' position in the premium grade value-added bicarbonate market by expanding geographic footprint from UK serving European markets to include Asian markets, including ASEAN and Far East.
Regulatory Filings and Transparency
The company published its unaudited consolidated and audited standalone financial results in multiple newspapers on February 3, 2026, including Business Standard, The Free Press Journal, and Navshakti (Marathi). The earnings conference call transcript was subsequently filed with stock exchanges on February 6, 2026, ensuring comprehensive disclosure to stakeholders.
Historical Stock Returns for Tata Chemicals
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +1.56% | +2.49% | -4.03% | -24.43% | -16.13% | +15.76% |


































