Tata Chemicals reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 17 crore in the June 2026 quarter, compared with a profit of Rs 252 crore a year earlier. Revenue rose 14.4% to Rs 4,255 crore, supported by higher volumes, but EBITDA fell 14.5% amid weaker overseas realisations. Shares have declined 15% in 2026 and over 30% in the past year.
Shares of Tata Chemicals declined 3% to their day's low of Rs 625 on the BSE on Friday after Kenya President William Ruto said on Thursday that he had ordered the company to stop its operations in the country, stating that its presence had failed to benefit Kenya.
Ruto said the Kenyan government would bring in two new companies to take over Tata Chemicals’ operations. In late July, Tata Chemicals had said the Kenyan government ordered its unit, Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited, to suspend operations at the Magadi Soda factory and halted exports of soda ash.
"We wish to reiterate, that on August 11, 2026, Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited submitted all the required information, reports and documentation and TCML is fully compliant with the regulatory requirements," Tata Chemicals said in a statement.
"We respect the authority of the Government of Kenya and remain committed to constructive engagement through the appropriate legal and regulatory channels to resolve the outstanding matters. Our priority continues to be the well-being of our employees, the Magadi community, our stakeholders in Kenya and continued economic development of Kenya."
Ruto said Tata had held the contract for 100 years but had not built anything or established a factory in Kajiado. He said the government would bring in a new company to establish a large glass manufacturing facility in Kajiado and another company to manufacture chemicals there.
Tata Chemicals’ Kenya operations contributed around 6% of the company’s total EBITDA in FY26. Tata Chemicals Magadi has an annual soda ash production capacity of around 350,000 tonnes. Soda ash is used across industries such as glass manufacturing, chemicals and detergents.
Formerly known as Magadi Soda Company, Tata Chemicals Magadi has been part of Tata Chemicals since 2005. Tata Chemicals, part of the global Tata Group, is one of the world’s leading chemical companies, with a portfolio spanning household products, industrial chemicals and agricultural inputs. It is Africa’s largest soda ash manufacturer and one of Kenya’s leading exporters.
Tata Chemicals, the world’s second-largest soda ash manufacturer, reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 17 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2026, compared with a net profit of Rs 252 crore in the corresponding period last year. The decline was primarily attributed to lower realisations, reduced other income and lower income from joint ventures.
Consolidated revenue from operations increased 14.4% year-on-year to Rs 4,255 crore from Rs 3,719 crore in the year-ago quarter, supported by higher volumes that offset lower realisations.
Consolidated EBITDA, however, fell 14.5% to Rs 555 crore during the quarter from Rs 649 crore in the same period last year. The decline was mainly due to lower realisations at overseas subsidiaries, particularly from exports from the US to Southeast Asian markets.
Tata Chemicals shares have fallen 15% so far in 2026, while the stock has lost more than 30% over the past year.
