Paradeep Phosphates

Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL) is India's second largest integrated private sector fertiliser manufacturer. It is among India’s foremost private sector players in the phosphatic fertiliser segment, with a market share of around 8%.

The Bhubaneswar-headquartered company was incorporated in 1981 as a joint venture between the Indian government and the Republic of Nauru to establish a phosphatic fertiliser manufacturing unit in Paradeep, Odisha.

The Republic of Nauru divested its stake in 1993, paving the way for PPL to become a Central Public Sector Unit (CPSU). The Government of India divested about 80% of its stake in 2002 to Zuari Maroc Phosphates Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between an indigenous fertiliser firm Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited (ZACL) and Morocco based phosphate giant OCP Group S.A.

In 2022, the central government offloaded its remaining 19.55% stake, as PPL launched a ₹1500 crore initial public offering (IPO). The company utilised a portion of the fund raised through IPO to take over a 1.2 million Metric ton capacity fertiliser plant in Goa the same year. After the IPO, ZMPPL now owns a 56.1% stake in PPL.

The company’s market capitalisation stood at nearly ₹1,000 crore as of December 22, 2023. PPL share price has surged more than 358% in the last three years.

Business operations

PPL owns and operates two fertiliser plants in Paradeep and Goa with a cumulative maximum production capacity of 3 million tons. Paradeep houses the larger manufacturing unit, having a maximum production capability of 1.8 MMT. PPL has another 1.2 MMT unit in Goa.

PPL has entered into long-term contracts with vendors in various parts of the world for sourcing its raw materials. It markets the finished fertilisers under the well-known brands Jai Kisaan and Navratna to its customer base of more than 8 million farmers in 15 states in the country. The company offers its products through an extensive network of 21 regional marketing offices, more than 6,500+ dealers, over 65,500 retailers, and 450 stock points.

The manufacturing units of PPL churn out a wide range of phosphatic fertilisers. PPL is also a leading supplier of industrial products like gypsum, zypmite, hydrofluorosilicic acid, sulphuric acid, and ammonia.

Financial highlights

Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL) saw its profit margin shrink, though its revenues rose sharply in FY 2022-23. Total income of the company increased by 70% to ₹13,432 crore, up by 70% YoY compared to ₹7898 crore in FY22.
Consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) increased to ₹892.1 crore in FY23, representing a year-on-year growth of 26%. Consolidated profit after tax (PAT) dropped 23.66% year-on-year to ₹304.18 crore in FY23 from ₹398.45 crore in FY22. The company's earnings per share (EPS) dropped to ₹3.9 in FY23 as against ₹6.9 in FY22.