Business
World food commodity prices declined modestly in May: FAO

World food commodity prices declined modestly in May for the second consecutive month, although wheat and poultry prices pushed higher, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Friday.
The FAO Food Price Index averaged 157.4 points in May 2022, down 0.6 per cent from April. The Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of commonly-traded food commodities, however, remained 22.8 per cent higher than in May 2021.
The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 2.2 per cent from the previous month, led by wheat prices, which were up 5.6 per cent from April and 56.2 per cent from their corresponding value a year earlier.
International wheat prices, averaging only 11 percent below the record high reached in March 2008, rose in response to an export ban announced by India and concerns over crop conditions in several leading exporting countries as well as reduced production prospects in Ukraine due to the war.
International rice prices also rose across the board, while coarse grain prices declined by 2.1 per cent, with maize prices dropping by even more in step with slightly improved crop conditions in the US, seasonal supplies in Argentina and the imminent start of Brazil’s main maize harvest.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index declined by 3.5 percent from April, while still markedly higher than its year-earlier level. Prices dropped for palm, sunflower, soy and rapeseed oils, due in part to the removal of Indonesia’s short-lived export ban on palm oil and sluggish global import demand for soy and rapeseed oils in view of elevated costs in recent months.
“Export restrictions create market uncertainty and can result in price spikes and increased price volatility, the decrease in oilseeds prices shows how important it is when they are removed and let exports flow smoothly,” said FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero Cullen.
The FAO Dairy Price Index also dropped by 3.5 per cent month-on-month. Prices of milk powders declined the most, linked to market uncertainties from the continued Covid-19 lockdowns in China, while robust retail sales and high demand from restaurants in the Northern Hemisphere prevented cheese prices from falling significantly despite weakened global import demand.
Butter prices also dropped on account of a weaker import demand amid improved exportable supplies.
The FAO Sugar Price Index declined by 1.1 per cent from April, as a bumper crop in India buoyed global availability prospects.
The weakening of the Brazilian real against the US dollar, along with lower ethanol prices, also pressured world sugar prices downwards.
Meanwhile, the FAO Meat Price Index set a new all-time high, increasing by 0.6 per cent in May even as world bovine meat prices remained stable and those of pig meat fell.
The climb was driven by a steep increase in international poultry meat prices, reflecting continued supply chain disruptions in Ukraine and recent cases of avian influenza amid a surge in demand in Europe and the Middle East.
Business
ACME Solar’s net profit for FY25 crashes over 64 pc to Rs 250.8 crore

Mumbai, May 20: Gurugram-based renewable energy player ACME Solar Holdings Limited has reported a steep decline of over 77 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in its consolidated net profit, which dropped to Rs 122 crore in the March 2025 quarter (Q4 FY25).
The company had posted a net profit of Rs 532.3 crore in the same period last financial year (Q4 FY24), according to its stock exchange filing.
For the full financial year (FY25), ACME Solar’s net profit declined by around 64 per cent to Rs 250.8 crore, compared to Rs 697.7 crore in FY24.
The sharp fall in profits came despite a strong rise in revenue. The company’s revenue from operations in Q4 stood at Rs 486.88 crore, up from Rs 295.16 crore a year ago — marking a YoY growth of nearly 65 per cent.
Total income also increased significantly to Rs 539.2 crore in Q4 FY25, from Rs 318 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal — showing a 69.56 per cent rise.
However, finance costs grew to Rs 205.5 crore from Rs 177.3 crore in the same period last fiscal — an increase of around 15.90 per cent.
Depreciation and amortisation expenses also rose sharply to Rs 102.2 crore, up 66.99 per cent from Rs 61.2 crore in Q4 FY24.
Despite the decline in profits, the company highlighted strong operational progress.
Chairperson and Managing Director Manoj Kumar Upadhyay said FY25 was a ‘remarkable year’ for ACME Solar, as it expanded its operational portfolio and commissioned its largest single-location project — a 1,200 MW SECI ISTS solar project.
He added that the company is now witnessing stronger earnings performance, with Q4 revenue rising 70 per cent YoY to Rs 539 crore and EBITDA jumping 118 per cent to Rs 488 crore.
He also stated that ACME’s focus on hybrid and firm-dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) solutions is making the business more resilient.
Business
Jupiter Wagons’ net profit falls nearly 2 pc in Q4, revenue slips

Mumbai, May 19: Railway wagons and components manufacturer Jupiter Wagons on Monday reported a decline of 1.9 per cent in its net profit at Rs 103 crore in Q4 FY25, down from Rs 105 crore in the same period last fiscal.
The profit before tax (PBT) also declined by 8.26 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 127.47 crore from Rs 138.95 crore, according to its stock exchange filing.
The company’s consolidated total income also saw a decline, falling to Rs 1,057 crore from Rs 1,127 crore a year earlier — a drop of around 6.2 per cent.
Similarly, revenue from operations decreased by approximately 6.4 per cent, from Rs 1,115.41 crore in the year-ago period to Rs 1,044.54 crore in the last quarter of FY25.
Despite the revenue dip, Jupiter Wagons managed to reduce its total expenses to Rs 923.34 crore in Q4, down 6.4 per cent compared to Rs 986.41 crore in the same quarter last financial year.
However, on a sequential basis, expenses rose by about 1.56 per cent compared to Rs 909.16 crore in Q3.
The company’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) rose slightly to Rs 153 crore from Rs 147 crore last fiscal, with the EBITDA margin improving to 14.6 per cent from 13.2 per cent.
Shares of Jupiter Wagons Limited fell by Rs 13.1 or 3.1 per cent to close the intra-day trading session at Rs 408.95 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Monday.
Speaking about the full financial year, Managing Director Vivek Lohia described FY25 as a transformative year for Jupiter Wagons.
He highlighted several strategic wins, including major contracts with Braithwaite for wheelsets.
“The company also secured brake system contracts worth over Rs 215 crore,” Lohia mentioned.
Lohia emphasised the company’s push into electric mobility with the inauguration of a new facility in Pithampur.
“This state-of-the-art plant is expected to drive battery production and supply to Indian Railways and private partners, along with orders for complete Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS),” he said.
Business
Govt unlikely to renew IndiGo pact with Turkish Airlines

New Delhi, May 19: The government is unlikely to extend the commercial airline IndiGo’s leasing agreement with Turkish Airlines due to strained diplomatic relations following Turkey’s open support for Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor launched by India to avenge the killings of 26 tourists.
“The current pact, which enables IndiGo to operate wide-body aircraft on the Delhi-Istanbul route, expires on May 31. The government review is underway and the deal is unlikely to be renewed given the broader diplomatic context,” according to an Media report, citing people in the know.
IndiGo currently operates over 500-seater Airbus A330s on lease from Turkish Airlines for its Istanbul flights. The partnership also includes a codeshare deal that allows IndiGo to sell connections to over 40 destinations in Europe and North America via Istanbul.
On Thursday, IndiGo defended the collaboration, calling it “strategic” and essential for offering Indian flyers long-haul international access.
Apart from the vocal support during the heinous Pahalgam massacre, Turkey has also supplied drones to Pakistan, which were used to attack India during Operation Sindoor.
The issue of renewal of the IndiGo agreement with Turkish Airlines comes up at a time when India is already snapping ties with Turkish businesses and universities.
The government on Thursday revoked the security clearance for Turkish ground-handling firm Celebi Airport Services at Indian airports, due to national security concerns.
The Turkish company handled around 70 per cent of the ground operations at Mumbai airport, including passenger services, load control, flight operations, cargo and postal services, warehouses and bridge operations.
Adani Airport Holdings has also scrapped its agreement with Turkish company DragonPass to provide the latter’s customers access to its airport lounges.
“Our association with DragonPass, which provided access to airport lounges, has been terminated with immediate effect. DragonPass customers will no longer have access to lounges at Adani-managed airports. This change will have no impact on the airport lounge and travel experience for other customers,” the Adani Airport Holdings spokesperson said on Thursday.
Hundreds of Indian tourists have cancelled their trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan as part of the nationalistic backlash against these countries for supporting Pakistan in the conflict with India. Leading online travel booking platforms MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip have reported mass cancellations and a sharp drop in Indian tourists wanting to travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Similarly, many Indian universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Maulana Azad National Urdu University, have suspended academic ties with Turkish institutions.
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