SSWL - Steel Str. Wheel

📊 NSE: SSWL 🏢 Auto Ancillaries 📅 Last Updated: 12/14/2025 13:43

💰 Financial Performance

Revenue Growth by Segment

In H1 FY26, total revenue grew 12.6% YoY to INR 2,387.4 Cr. Segment-wise volume performance showed Alloy Wheels growing 12.5% (18 lakh units vs 16 lakh units), while Steel Wheels declined 2.6% (76 lakh units vs 78 lakh units). In November 2025, the Aluminium segment saw a massive 42% value growth, and Tractors grew 36% in value, while Passenger Car Steel wheels declined 17% in value.

Geographic Revenue Split

Exports contributed INR 271 Cr in H1 FY26, representing 11.3% of total revenue, a decline from 12.9% (INR 273 Cr) in H1 FY25. Domestic operations account for the remaining ~88.7% of revenue.

Profitability Margins

Gross Profit Margin for H1 FY26 stood at 35.3%, down from 36.0% YoY. Net Profit Margin (PAT Margin) declined to 3.7% in H1 FY26 compared to 4.5% in H1 FY25, primarily due to higher depreciation and interest costs associated with capacity expansion.

EBITDA Margin

EBITDA Margin for H1 FY26 was 9.8%, a compression of 120 basis points from 11.0% in H1 FY25. EBITDA remained flat at INR 234 Cr despite revenue growth, reflecting higher operating expenses and a less favorable product mix in the short term.

Capital Expenditure

Capital Work-in-Progress (CWIP) increased significantly to INR 389.0 Cr as of September 2025 from INR 271.1 Cr in March 2025, indicating an investment of INR 117.9 Cr in ongoing capacity expansions during the half-year.

Credit Rating & Borrowing

The company improved its Debt/Equity ratio to 0.19 in FY25 from 0.29 in FY24 through debt reduction. However, finance costs for H1 FY26 remained high at INR 60.8 Cr, and the Interest Coverage Ratio declined to 1.92 in FY25 from 2.32 in FY24.

⚙️ Operational Drivers

Raw Materials

Steel and Aluminium are the primary raw materials. Cost of materials consumed was INR 1,583.6 Cr in H1 FY26, representing 66.3% of total revenue.

Import Sources

Not specifically disclosed in available documents, though the company notes exposure to global supply chain disruptions and trade wars.

Capacity Expansion

Current Alloy Wheel capacity is 0.3 million units p.a., with a planned expansion to 0.5 million units by Q4 FY26 or Q1 FY27. The company is also augmenting capacity for another 0.5 million units based on customer discussions.

Raw Material Costs

Raw material costs as a percentage of revenue increased to 66.3% in H1 FY26 from 63.8% in H1 FY25, reflecting a 17% YoY increase in absolute material consumption costs (INR 1,583.6 Cr vs INR 1,353.9 Cr).

Manufacturing Efficiency

Capacity utilization is noted as 'inching up gradually.' The company uses quarterly debottlenecking to improve yield across all facilities.

Logistics & Distribution

Not disclosed as a specific percentage, but the company notes that global uncertainties and trade wars impact the cost and feasibility of export logistics.

📈 Strategic Growth

Expected Growth Rate

12%

Growth Strategy

Growth will be driven by a shift toward high-margin Alloy Wheels (market growing at 12% p.a. vs 4% for steel), expanding Alloy capacity from 0.3M to 0.5M units, foraying into Aluminium Knuckles, and securing new export orders such as the recent US trailer wheel contract for December 2025.

Products & Services

Steel Wheel Rims, Alloy Wheels (Aluminium), and Aluminium Knuckles for Passenger Vehicles, Trucks, Tractors, and 2&3 Wheelers.

Brand Portfolio

SSWL (Steel Strips Wheels Limited).

New Products/Services

Aluminium Knuckles (currently 1-2% of volume mix) and high-margin Alloy Wheels for EVs and premium segments are the primary new growth drivers.

Market Expansion

Targeting the US market with new trailer wheel orders and expanding the Alloy wheel portfolio to capture the 'aluminization' trend in the domestic EV and SUV segments.

Market Share & Ranking

SSWL is described as a leader in designing and manufacturing automotive wheels in both Steel and Alloy categories.

🌍 External Factors

Industry Trends

The industry is shifting toward 'lightweighting' and 'aluminization,' particularly for EVs. The Alloy wheel market is expected to grow at 12% p.a. over the next 5 years, significantly outperforming the 4% growth rate of steel wheels.

Competitive Landscape

Increased competition in the auto component sector is causing margin pressure, requiring SSWL to focus on quality, delivery performance, and design to prevent customer loss.

Competitive Moat

Moat is built on being a 'Preferred Global Brand' with project management expertise and a diversified product mix (Steel, Alloy, Knuckles) across segments (Tractor, Truck, PC), providing counter-cyclical support.

Macro Economic Sensitivity

Strong correlation with GDP growth; vehicle purchases are discretionary and highly sensitive to business outlook and economic cycles.

Consumer Behavior

Shift in consumer preference toward premium vehicles and SUVs is driving the 12% growth in Alloy wheels compared to stagnant or slow growth in traditional steel wheels.

Geopolitical Risks

Trade wars and global economic growth remain significant risks, with the full impact of potential trade barriers still under analysis.

⚖️ Regulatory & Governance

Industry Regulations

Operations must comply with local regulations, statutes, and automotive safety standards. The company also monitors environmental and social standards within its supply chain.

Environmental Compliance

The company is investing in renewable energy and water security (insulating against rainfall unpredictability) as part of its ESG and business continuity priorities.

Taxation Policy Impact

Effective tax rate was approximately 25.3% in H1 FY26 (INR 30.0 Cr tax on INR 118.5 Cr PBT).

Legal Contingencies

The Independent Auditor's Report states that the company does not have any pending litigations which would impact its financial position as of March 31, 2025.

⚠️ Risk Analysis

Key Uncertainties

Global economic slowdown and trade wars could impact export volumes (already down 26% in Q2 FY26). Water shortages due to unpredictable rainfall pose a risk to manufacturing continuity.

Geographic Concentration Risk

While domestic-heavy, the 11-13% export segment is critical for margins; a slowdown in global markets (like the 54% volume drop in exports in Nov 2025) significantly impacts the bottom line.