Linde India rides strong demand and cost efficiency to post 66% jump in Q3 profits

Linde India reported a strong performance for the December quarter, driven by robust revenue growth and operating leverage. The company’s net profit surged 66.2% year-on-year to ₹193.3 crore in Q3, compared with ₹116.3 crore in the same period last year.

Revenue from operations rose 15.7% YoY to ₹701.0 crore, up from ₹605.8 crore a year ago, reflecting steady demand across its industrial and medical gases business.

Operating performance improved sharply during the quarter. EBITDA increased 33.7% YoY

to ₹257.3 crore, compared with ₹192.5 crore in Q3 last year. As a result, EBITDA margin expanded to 36.7% from 31.8%, supported by better operating leverage and cost efficiencies.

On the cost front, total expenses stood at ₹511.4 crore for the quarter, compared with ₹470.5 crore a year ago. Cost of materials consumed rose to ₹85.0 crore from ₹54.2 crore, while purchases of stock-in-trade declined to ₹77.7 crore from ₹78.9 crore. Changes in inventories resulted in a ₹28.7 crore reduction, aiding profitability.

Employee benefit expenses increased to ₹176.8 crore from ₹103.4 crore, while finance costs rose to ₹55.4 crore from ₹16.1 crore. Depreciation and amortisation expenses stood at ₹616.8 crore, compared with ₹552.0 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Other expenses came in at ₹150.3 crore, up from ₹134.9 crore.

Linde India Limited is the Indian subsidiary of Linde plc, a global leader in industrial gases and engineering, formed from the 2018 merger of Linde AG and Praxair Inc. Established in India since 1935 (formerly BOC India), it operates over 35 facilities, including the country's largest air separation plant, focusing on gases production, distribution, and engineering projects like cryogenic plants.

Linde India earns primarily through two segments: gases, products & services and project engineering (PED).

For the nine months ended December 31, Linde India reported revenue from operations of ₹1,916.3 crore, compared with ₹1,893.5 crore in the corresponding period last year. Net profit for the nine-month period rose to ₹471.5 crore, up from ₹336.4 crore a year ago.

Separately, the company said Neeraj Kumar Jumrani has resigned as Chief Financial Officer, effective February 15.

Shares of Linde India ended today trading 3.5% higher at ₹6,280 on the NSE.