Robust Q3 FY2005 operating and financial performance
January 18, 2005

	Net sales improve 38 per cent, PBT increases 54 per cent, PAT up 63 per cent
	Q3 FY05 EPS: 4.49; 9M FY05 EPS: 10.66
	Soda ash plant maintains high capacity utilisation levels
	Tata Salt continues to enjoy 40 per cent+ marketshare, STPP sales strong
	Urea sales up 10 per cent; DAP/ NPK* sales up 26 per cent
	Prudent financial management further lowers debt, cost of borrowing

Tata Chemicals Limited, a leading manufacturer of chemicals, fertilisers and food additives and one of the largest manufacturers of synthetic soda ash in the world today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2004.

Commenting on the company's performance for Q3 FY 2005, Prasad Menon, Managing Director, Tata Chemicals, said, "I am happy to report strong operating and financial performance resulting from improved sales volumes and efficiency enhancement across our businesses backed by aggressive financial management. While we continue to be leaders in the soda ash and edible salt business categories, the performance of our urea, NPK and DAP businesses too has been very creditable."

The external environment continues to pose challenges; however these results further strengthen my confidence that Tata Chemicals possesses the size, scale and structure to deliver growth and value going forward."

*manufactured by the company.

Performance summary

	Income from operations (net of excise) up 38 per cent to Rs 1,039 crore from Rs 755 crore.
		Increased trading activity in complex fertilisers, driven by the 'Tata Kisan Sansars' further improves revenues.
	Profit from operations improves 8 per cent to Rs 131 crore from Rs 120 crore, despite continuing high coking coal and ammonia costs.
	PBIT of the inorganic chemicals business at Rs 42 crore.
	PBIT of the fertiliser business amounted to Rs 66 crore.
	Profit before tax stood at Rs 141 crore, up 53 per cent over Rs 92 crore in Q3 FY 2004.
	PAT at Rs 97 crore compared with Rs 59 crore in Q3 FY 2004
	EPS (for the quarter): Rs 4.49.

	Income from operations (net of excise) improved by 16 per cent to Rs 2,289 crore from Rs 1,979 crore.
	Profit from operations at Rs 382 crore compared to Rs 385 crore
		High prices of coking coal, coke as well as phosphoric acid and ammonia, especially during the first six months of the current financial year resulted in reduced profit from operations.
	PBIT of the inorganic chemicals business at Rs 153 crore.
	PBIT of the fertiliser business amounted to Rs 159 crore.
	Profit before tax at Rs 341 crore, up 20 per cent over Rs 285 crore
	PAT at Rs 229 crore compared with Rs 197 crore in 9M FY2004.
	EPS (for the period): Rs 10.66.

Segmental performance

Inorganic chemicals

	Capacity utilisation levels at the Mithapur facility during the quarter under review stood at 93.5 per cent.
	Tata Chemicals maintains its leadership position in the domestic market with a 30 per cent marketshare.
	Domestic sales for the quarter under review stood at 1,37,000 MT and for the year-to-date amounted to 3,88,000 MT, making up the sales shortfall that resulted from the transporters strike in the second quarter FY05.
	In line with its objective of enhancing its global presence, the company exported 46,600 MT, 44 per cent of India's export volumes during the period under review.

	Market leadership in the edible salt segment was sustained with a marketshare of 40.5 per cent
	The Tata Salt brand was also recognised as the 'Number 1' food brand in the country, as part of 'The Economic Times Brand Equity rankings'. On an overall basis too, the brand ranked fifth as compared to sixth in the previous year.
	During the review period, Tata Salt was also introduced in 100-gram dispenser sets. This innovation has enjoyed a strong consumer response besides also enhancing the image of the brand.
	Primary sales of both Samunder Cooking Soda and Samunder Crystal Salt continued to be healthy and steady.

Sales volumes of sodium tri poly phosphate (STPP) were healthy at 14,160 MT, an improvement of 30 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

Fertilisers

	Sales during the quarter amounted to 279,800 MT, an increase of 10 per cent over the corresponding period last year.
	Tata Chemicals remains the most energy efficient player in the industry.
	The Safety Management Systems of the company's Babrala manufacturing facility were awarded the 'Sword of Honour' by the British Safety Council. This is first such award given to any fertilizer company in India.
	The Tata Kisan Kendra initiative has been given a new identity with the brand name 'Tata Kisan Sansar' (TKS). The TKS network was also extended to Agra and Chandigarh where it received an enthusiastic response.

	DAP, NPK and complex fertiliser sales volumes during the quarter under review amounted to 2,35,000 MT translating to 4,44,000 MT for the year to date.
	During the quarter ended December 31, 2004, regular availability of ammonia and phosphoric acid ensured optimal levels of production.

	Interest costs in line with the company's focused debt restructuring programme amounted to Rs 6 crore in Q3 FY2005, a 48 per cent decline compared to the corresponding period last year.
	Total debt as on December 31, 2004, stood at Rs 743 crore. This debt comprises short-term buyers credit amounting to around Rs 295 crore, the tenor for which is around six months.
	The weighted cost of borrowings (short and long term) was 4.41 per cent for the quarter under review.

Outlook

	The demand outlook for the soda ash business, especially from the glass segment remains strong both domestically and globally. On the back of this demand, as well as spiraling raw material and freight costs, prices of soda ash were firmed up in November 2004 in select markets by approximately 7 per cent.
	All the company's food additives offerings continue to receive good response at both the distributor and the consumer levels. Going forward the company is exploring opportunities of widening its presence in the category.

	A good rabi season is anticipated to result in continued healthy nitrogenous and complex fertiliser demand though some purchases may have been made in advance.
	The revised phosphoric acid price that the government and industry have negotiated can be expected to provide some relief to the complex fertiliser business. However ammonia prices remain strong.