Kothari Fermentation posts ₹3 cr full-year loss as energy costs bite
A ₹2.99 crore net loss for FY26 reverses the prior year's ₹81 lakh profit. Power and fuel costs exceeded a quarter of annual revenue.
— 2 earlier stories on Kothari Fermentation & Biochem Ltd. →What's new
- Kothari Fermentation swung to a full-year net loss of ₹2.99 crore, erasing the prior year's ₹81 lakh profit.
- Annual revenue slipped slightly to ₹112.13 crore, with power and fuel costs topping ₹26 crore.
- Q4 brought a ₹1.27 crore profit, helped by a deferred tax credit. The company also replaced its internal auditor.
Why this matters
For a nano-cap company, a full-year swing from profit to a ₹3 crore loss is material. The culprit is clear: energy costs consumed roughly 24% of the top line, overwhelming any operational improvement. The Q4 profit is a one-off from a tax credit, not an operational turnaround. The auditor change adds a governance question to an already stressed financial picture.
What we're watching
- Whether power and fuel costs stay elevated in FY27 or ease.
- If the Q4 profit can be sustained without tax credits.
- Impact of the new internal auditors on corporate oversight.
The full read
Kothari Fermentation made a profit of ₹81 lakh in FY25. A year later, it reported a net loss of ₹2.99 crore. Revenue was nearly flat at ₹112.13 crore, but power and fuel costs climbed to over ₹26 crore, eating up roughly a quarter of the top line. The Q4 profit of ₹1.27 crore masks the full-year problem: that result relied on a deferred tax credit. With a market cap of just ₹61 crore, the loss is a substantial hit. The company also brought in new internal auditors, a standard move that gains weight after a year where costs blew through margins. The core issue isn't operational; it's energy. Until power and fuel costs moderate, profitability will stay elusive.
Questions answered
- Why did Kothari Fermentation swing to a loss in FY26?
- The primary driver was power and fuel costs, which exceeded ₹26 crore for the year, or about 24% of revenue. These elevated costs overwhelmed stable but slightly lower annual sales of ₹112.13 crore.
- How did the fourth quarter perform relative to the full year?
- Q4 was the only profitable quarter, posting a net profit of ₹1.27 crore. This result was supported by a deferred tax credit, not underlying operations.
- What is the significance of the internal auditor change?
- The board approved appointing Arun K. Garg & Associates as the new internal auditor for FY27. The filing states this is to strengthen oversight functions, but it follows a year of declining profitability.
- How big is Kothari Fermentation in market terms?
- The company is a nano-cap with a market capitalization of ₹61 crore, making its ₹2.99 crore loss significant relative to its size.
Kothari Fermentation & Biochem Ltd.
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All notes on KFBL →- 29 May 2026 · 8:34 PM IST Kothari Fermentation posts ₹3 cr full-year loss as energy costs bite
- 45d ago Kothari Fermentation swings to ₹2.99 cr loss as power costs hit 24% of revenue
- 45d ago Kothari Fermentation posts a ₹2.99 cr full-year loss after costs bite