Though the expansion is starting to inflate the
debt metrics, it is still at a manageable level. Further, US tariffs on steel
realisations can impact the domestic steel industry, especially with valuations
above past-decade’s average. Steel realisations have declined by an average 15
per cent in the last year. Refracted trade flows from US tariff’s could
exacerbate the problem with Chinese imports.
Coal and energy costs
have declined in the last year providing relief to manufacturers. Weak global
economy may sustain the lower price for energy.
An improvement in realisations will be critical to
improved profitability, which continues to be at the lower end despite an
increase in operating leverage from expanded capacities and lower cost of
energy.
While companies were
conservative on debt metrics in March 2022, there has been increased appetite
for debt, driven by the ongoing capacity expansion. The stocks are trading at a
premium owing to capacity expansion, strong domestic demand and expected
improvement in profitability.