India's Nalco posts fall in first-quarter profit on lower aluminium prices

BENGALURU, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Indias National Aluminium Co (Nalco) (NALU.NS) reported a more than 40% fall in quarterly profit on Friday, dragged down by weak prices and demand.

The state-run aluminium producers consolidated profit fell to 3.34 billion rupees ($40.34 million) in the first quarter ended June 30, from 5.58 billion rupees a year earlier.

The company, whose revenue dropped 16%, said revenue from the aluminium segment tumbled over 18%, while its chemicals division saw a fall of 2.7%.

An easing supply chain and the persistent disparity between China and India in prices of HRC-grade aluminium have resulted in depressed prices, analysts said.

LME aluminium prices fell nearly 40% in the June quarter from a year ago.

The companys total expenses fell by 10% year-on-year, helped by a curb in cost of power and fuel.

Nalcos revenue from operations came in at 31.78 billion rupees, down from 37.95 billion rupees a year earlier.

Earlier this week, bigger rival Hindalco Industries (HALC.NS) reported a slump in first-quarter profit.

Shares of Nalco ended 0.7% lower on Friday ahead of the companys results. The stock had gained 4.7% in the April-June quarter, underperforming the Nifty metal index (.NIFTYMET), which rose nearly 13%.

($1 = 82.7870 Indian rupees)