IMFA reports 22% YoY growth in ferro chrome production in Q1 FY'27
2026-08-06 11:29:39 [Print]
IMFA, India's largest integrated ferro chrome producer, delivered a robust operational performance in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, with ferro chrome production rising 22% year-on-year to 80,690 tonnes, up from 65,929 tonnes in Q1 FY'26. On a sequential basis, output grew 18% compared to 68,506 tonnes in Q4 FY'26. This growth was largely driven by the successful integration of the Kalignagar ferro chrome plant unit (KNR-2), which was acquired from Tata Steel. All four furnaces at the facility remained fully operational throughout the quarter.
Ferro chrome sales also saw a healthy 19% year-on-year increase, reaching 79,268 tonnes, reflecting strong dispatch activity during the period. IMFA noted that approximately 14,000 tonnes of material were dispatched from the newly acquired KNR-2 unit, making a notable contribution to both revenue and profitability.
On the raw materials front, captive chrome ore production surged sharply to 272,555 tonnes in Q1 FY'27, compared with 103,780 tonnes in the same quarter last year, while remaining largely flat quarter-on-quarter. This significant rise follows the expansion of the company's mining operations, strengthening its backward integration and ensuring a steady ore supply to support its growing ferro chrome business.
IMFA has also received regulatory approvals to scale its mining capacity to 1.2 million tonnes per annum, backed by an investment of approximately INR 1,000 crore. This move aligns ore availability with the company's long-term smelting expansion plans.
Meanwhile, the company's greenfield KNR-1 ferro chrome project is progressing as scheduled. The first furnace is expected to commence hot metal tapping in August 2026, with the second furnace following in September 2026. Upon commissioning, the project will boost IMFA's installed ferro chrome capacity from 384,000 tonnes per year to 484,000 tonnes per year during FY'27, with a longer-term target of 534,000 tonnes per year.
Ferro chrome sales also saw a healthy 19% year-on-year increase, reaching 79,268 tonnes, reflecting strong dispatch activity during the period. IMFA noted that approximately 14,000 tonnes of material were dispatched from the newly acquired KNR-2 unit, making a notable contribution to both revenue and profitability.
On the raw materials front, captive chrome ore production surged sharply to 272,555 tonnes in Q1 FY'27, compared with 103,780 tonnes in the same quarter last year, while remaining largely flat quarter-on-quarter. This significant rise follows the expansion of the company's mining operations, strengthening its backward integration and ensuring a steady ore supply to support its growing ferro chrome business.
IMFA has also received regulatory approvals to scale its mining capacity to 1.2 million tonnes per annum, backed by an investment of approximately INR 1,000 crore. This move aligns ore availability with the company's long-term smelting expansion plans.
Meanwhile, the company's greenfield KNR-1 ferro chrome project is progressing as scheduled. The first furnace is expected to commence hot metal tapping in August 2026, with the second furnace following in September 2026. Upon commissioning, the project will boost IMFA's installed ferro chrome capacity from 384,000 tonnes per year to 484,000 tonnes per year during FY'27, with a longer-term target of 534,000 tonnes per year.
Ferro-chrome Cr 55%min, C 0.25%max EXW China
Unit:RMB/mt 60-basis
China low carbon ferrochrome producers' output statistics by province by month
Unit: mt
