The Directors have pleasure in presenting the 38th Annual Report together with Audited Accounts of the Companyfor the year ended on 31st March 2026.
Amount in ^ lakh
Particulars
31.03.2026
31.03.2025
Gross Profit before Depreciation
(179.33)
308.95
Depreciation
982.72
994.12
Profit before Tax
(1162.05)
(685.17)
Provision for Tax
-
Current
- MAT Credit
- Deferred
19.70
(42.89)
Surplus available for appropriation
(1181.75)
(642.28)
Dividend (including Dividend Tax)
Amount transferred to General Reserve
Surplus carried to Balance Sheet
The financial year 2025-26 was one of the mostchallenging years for the global natural stone industry.The Company operated in an environment markedby weak construction demand, an extraordinarilyvolatile U.S. trade policy environment, a Middle Eastconflict that disrupted global petrochemical supply,and continued uncertainty in global supply chains.These external developments significantly affectedexport demand, customer purchasing behaviour, rawmaterial costs and working capital across the industry.
The United States remained the Company's largestexport destination, accounting for approximately 65%of total exports, while Europe contributed around 25%.Consequently, developments in U.S. trade policy inparticular had a direct and material bearing on theCompany's performance through the year.
Demand in the Company's key export marketsremained subdued for much of the financial year, asthe cumulative effect of U.S. tariff measures fed throughinto higher consumer prices for imported constructionmaterials. This tariff-driven inflation added to the costof renovation and construction projects in the UnitedStates and contributed to more cautious purchasingbehaviour among customers through the year.
The dominant development of the year was theintroduction, escalation, and eventual invalidation ofthe U.S. reciprocal tariff regime.
Reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports were introducedin April 2025 at 27%, and were progressively revisedover the following months, rising to a cumulative
rate of approximately 50% by August 2025 once anadditional duty linked to India's purchases of Russianoil was layered on. For most of the financial year,this left the Company at a distinct disadvantageagainst competing origins. Vietnam, a key competingsource for engineered quartz, was initially assigned acomparable rate of 46%, but subsequently negotiatedthis down to 20% in October 2025 - while India's rateremained at or near 50% through this period. This gapwas compounded by a further, longstanding freight-cost disadvantage: ocean freight from Vietnamto the United States has historically been cheaperthan from India, meaning Indian-origin materialwas disadvantaged on both tariff and logistics costsimultaneously for the greater part of the year. Brazilianquartzite, a competing natural-stone category,secured an outright exemption from Brazil's country-specific tariff, though Brazilian granite, marble andslate remained subject to separate duties.
A partial narrowing occurred in February 2026, whena bilateral trade framework between India and theUnited States reduced India's reciprocal tariff to18% and removed the additional Russian-oil-linkedduty, briefly bringing India's rate below Vietnam'snegotiated 20%. This improvement proved short-lived:on 20 February 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruledthat the International Emergency Economic PowersAct (IEEPA) - the legal authority under which the entirereciprocal tariff programme, covering India, Vietnamand other trading partners alike, had been imposed -did not authorise the President to levy tariffs. All IEEPA-based tariffs were accordingly terminated with effectfrom 24 February 2026, and the U.S. administrationreplaced them with a uniform 10% import surchargeunder Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, applicableto imports from nearly all countries for up to 150 days.A summary of the tariff position through the year is setout below.
Table: U.S. Tariff Position - India, Vietnam and Brazil, FY 2025-26
Period
India
Vietnam
Brazil (quartzite)
Brazil (granite/marble/slate)
Apr 2025("Liberation Day")
27% reciprocal
46% reciprocal
Not yet targeted
Jul-Aug 2025
25%, then 25%oil-linked = 50%cumulative
46% (pre-deal)
Exempted fromBrazil's additionaltariff
Proposed 25%Section 301 duty;combined burdenreported up to 50%
Oct 2025
50% (unchanged)
Negotiated downto 20%
Exempt
(unchanged)
Unchanged
Feb 2026(bilateral deal)
Cut to 18%
20% (unchanged)
24 Feb 2026 (IEEPAstruck down)
Flat 10% Section 122surcharge
Likely reverted,
pending
confirmation
Section 301 dutiesrest on separateauthority - likelyunaffected
As a result, the Company faced a genuine andsustained competitive disadvantage against keycompeting origins for most of FY 2025-26, followed bya brief and ultimately moot improvement, and theyear closed with the reciprocal tariff structure that hadshaped the entire period struck down by the courts- leaving no lasting structural advantage to point to,only a narrower, temporary, and still-unresolved tariffenvironment.
Throughout this period, the sheer unpredictability of theapplicable tariff structure created additional difficultyfor importers. Since shipments from India typicallyrequire 55 to 75 days to reach U.S. ports, customerswere often unable to determine the landed cost ofmaterial at the time of placing orders. Many buyersresponded by deferring procurement decisions,postponing shipment schedules and holding lowerinventory levels, which contributed to slower orderinflows, delayed dispatches and increased pricingpressure over the course of the year.
3. Impact of Middle East Conflict on RawMaterial Costs
Toward the close of the financial year, a furtherdisruption emerged in the Company's cost base. On 28February 2026, the United States and Israel launchedmilitary action against Iran, and Iran responded byclosing the Strait of Hormuz - a waterway carryingroughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil and LNGtrade. This triggered an immediate tightening inglobal petrochemical supply, with early effects onresin markets visible before the financial year closedon 31 March 2026. Polyester resin, which constitutesapproximately 60% of the raw material cost of theCompany's engineered quartz slabs, is directlyexposed to disruption of this nature, and the Companybegan to see upward cost pressure on this input in thefinal weeks of the year.
4. Domestic Business Environment
Domestic demand also remained under pressureduring the year. In Bengaluru, one of the Company'skey domestic markets, the real estate sector continued
to face significant delays in obtaining OccupancyCertificates and related regulatory clearances,including e-khata records, and no-objectioncertificates from the Fire and Emergency ServicesDepartment, the Karnataka State Pollution ControlBoard, utility providers and other approving authorities.Industry bodies such as CREDAI continued to pressfor faster approvals through the year, and while theKarnataka government exempted larger residentialplots (1,200 sq ft and above, later extended to 2,400sq ft) from the mandatory Occupancy Certificaterequirement in September 2025, delays affectinga large number of existing and mid-sized projectspersisted, holding back completions and handovers.This, together with cautious spending by developersand homeowners and increased competition fromalternative construction materials, continued toweigh on demand for granite and quartzite productsin the domestic market. Pricing remained competitiveacross several product categories, requiring continuedfocus on operational efficiency and product mixoptimization.
5. Operational Response
Despite these conditions, the Company remainedfocused on protecting its long-term competitiveposition, undertaking tighter control over workingcapital, optimization of production planning,disciplined inventory management, and continuedcost rationalization across operations.
6. Outlook and Subsequent Events
As at the date of this report, the U.S. tariff frameworkremains unsettled. The 10% import surcharge currentlyin effect under Section 122 authority is temporary, andno durable legal or negotiated framework has yetreplaced the reciprocal tariff regime struck down bythe Supreme Court.
Separately, the disruption arising from the conflict inthe Middle East has intensified materially since theyear end. Petrochemical and resin prices rose sharplythrough March to May 2026 - industry data indicatesincreases in the range of 30% to 60% across various resin
categories over this period - as the Strait of Hormuzremained largely closed for extended stretches andas at the date of this report, the conflict remainsunresolved; The Company is actively evaluatingalternative sourcing arrangements and pricing pass¬through measures in response, and will continue tomonitor both the U.S. trade policy environment andthe Middle East situation closely given their directbearing on competitiveness and cost structure in theyear ahead.
Your directors have not recommended any dividendfor the year 2025-26.
Company has not declared any dividend in theFinancial Year 2017-18 accordingly no transfer needto be done during the year to Investor Protection Fundunder sub-section (2) of section 125 of the CompaniesAct 2013 and IEPF (Accounting, Audit, Transfer andRefund) Rules 2016 whereas Mr. Ayush Goel, CompanySecretary is the Nodal Officer appointed by theCompany under the Provisions of the IEPF Act.
The Company has not accepted any fixed depositfrom the public.
The Annual Return referred to Section 134(3)(a) as perthe Companies Act 2013 is available on the website ofthe Company www.arotile.com
The Company has not granted any Loans, Guaranteesand made any Investments during the year.
All contracts/arrangements and transactions enteredby the Company with related parties were in ordinarycourse of business and at arm's length basis andwere below the threshold prescribed under ScheduleXII of regulation 23 of SEBI LODR Regulations, 2015during the year. Your Directors draw attention of themembers to Notes to accounts of financial statementwhich sets out related party disclosures. The relatedParty Transactions Policy as approved by the Boardis available on the website of the Company www.arotile.com.
During the year, Mr. G Sundareshwara (DIN: 00165762)has resigned as an Independent Director of theCompany, with effect from November 11, 2025, due tohis increased professional and personal commitments.Consequently, he shall also cease to be theChairperson of the Audit Committee and StakeholderRelationship Committee & Member of Nominationand Remuneration Committee and Corporate SocialResponsibility Committee of the Company. To fill thevacant position, the Board appointed Mr. Varathan
Arul (DIN: 11480624) as an Additional Directors onFebruary 04, 2026 as per the recommendation of theNomination and Remuneration Committee.
Subsequently, he was appointed as Non-ExecutiveIndependent Director upon receiving approval fromthe members through Postal ballot on March 24, 2026for a consecutive period of five years effective fromFebruary 04, 2026.
As required under Section 134(3)(c) of the CompaniesAct, 2013, your Directors state that:
a) in the preparation of the annual accounts, theapplicable accounting standards have beenfollowed along with proper explanation relatingto material departures;
b) the accounting policies have been selectedand applied consistently and judgments andestimates made are reasonable and prudentso as to give a true and fair view of the state ofaffairs of the Company at the end of the financialyear and of the profit and loss of the Company forthat period;
c) proper and sufficient care has been taken for themaintenance of adequate accounting recordsin accordance with the provisions of the said Actfor safeguarding the assets of the Company andfor preventing and detecting fraud and otherirregularities;
d) the annual accounts have been prepared on agoing concern basis;
e) the internal financial control to be followed bythe Company have been laid down and thatsuch internal financial control are adequate andwere operating effectively; and
f) the proper systems to ensure compliance withthe provisions of all applicable laws have beendevised and that such systems were adequateand operating effectively.
A Corporate Social Responsibility Policy (CSR Policy)indicating the activities to be undertaken by theCompany which has been approved by the Board.The CSR policy may be access from the website of theCompany i.e. www.arotile.com. The Annual Reporton CSR activities is annexed herewith marked asAnnexure I.
M/s. Alok Mittal & Associates, Chartered Accountants,New Delhi was appointed as the Statutory Auditorof the Company for a period of Five Years from theConclusion of Thirty Fourth Annual General Meeting.The Notes on the financial statements referred to inthe Auditors' Report are self-explanatory and do notcall for any further comments. The Auditors' Report
does not contain any qualifications, reservations oradverse remark.
Practicing Company Secretary M/s. S Panigrahi &Associates (CP No. 27507) was appointed as theSecretarial Auditor by the members for a continuousperiod of Five Years commencing from April 1, 2025until March 31, 2030 to conduct the Secretarial Auditof the Company.
The Secretarial Audit Report along with the AnnualSecretarial Compliance Audit Report under SEBIRegulation for the year 2025-26 is annexed herewithas Annexure II. The Secretarial Audit Report does notcontain any qualifications, reservations or adverseremark.
The Board had appointed M/s Sreekantha & Co.,Chartered Accountants, Hosur as the Internal Auditorof the Company for the year 2025-26 Internal Auditreport does not contain any qualifications, reservationsor adverse remark.
Compliance of Secretarial Standards on Meeting ofBoard of Directors (SS-1) and General Meeting (SS2)issued by Institute of Company Secretary of India hasbeen adopted by the Company.
As required by SEBI (Listing Obligations and DisclosureRequirements) Regulations 2015, the PracticingCompany Secretary's Certificate on CorporateGovernance is enclosed as Annexure III to the Board'sReport. The Auditors' Certificate for the year 2025-26does not contain any qualifications, reservations oradverse remarks.
During the period under review, there were nosignificant material orders passed by the Regulatorsor courts or tribunals which would impact the goingconcern status of the Company and its futureoperations.
Additional information on conservation of energy,technology absorption, foreign exchange earningsand outgo as required as per the provisions ofCompanies Act 2013 and Rules there under is annexedherewith in Annexure IV and form part of this report.
Statement of particulars of employee pursuant to the provisions of section 197 of the Companies Act, 2013 readwith Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 for the year ended 31stMarch 2026.
Employed throughout the financial year, ended 31st March 2026 in receipt of remuneration not less than OneCrore two Lakh rupees per annum.
Name
Age
Qualification
Experience
Date of
Commencement
Employment
Designation
Remuneration
Last
Mr. Sunil
Kumar
Arora
67
Years
B. Sc.
39 Years
03.05.1988
Managing
Director
1,81,85,792
Since
Inception
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 197 (12) of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 5 of Companies(Appointment & Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014, the details regarding the ratio ofremuneration of each Director to the median employee's remuneration and such other details as requiredtherein are as under:
1. The ratio of the remuneration of each director to the median remuneration of the employees of the Companyfor the financial year: The Board of Directors of the Company comprises of Non-Executive Directors who hasbeen paid commission in the form of Remuneration and sitting fee from the Company.
SI. No.
Ratio to median remuneration
1
Mr. Sunil Kumar Arora, Managing Director
508.425
2
Mr. G Sundareshwara
2.796
3
Mrs. Sujata Arora
4.054
4
Mr. Varathan Arul
1.957
5
Mr. Keshava Murthy Kalasachar
5.732
6
Mr. Sahil Arora, Whole Time Director
119.814
7
Mr. Ashish Jyotindra Bhuta
5.452
2. The percentage increase in remuneration of each Director, Chief Financial Officer, Company Secretary inthe financial year: The Board of Directors of the Company comprises of Non-Executive Directors who hasbeen paid Commission and sitting fee from the Company.
% Increase in Remuneration
(2.73)
31.82
100.00
(0.35)
(50.00)
127.78
116.67
8
Mr. C. Srinivasan, Chief Financial Officer
(2.40)
9
Mr. Ayush Goel, Company Secretary
66.00
3. The percentage increase in the medianremuneration of employees in the financial year:0.53
4. The number of permanent employees on the rollof Company: 150
5. Average percentile increase already made in thesalaries of employees other than the managerialpersonnel in the financial year ended 31st March2026. Nil
6. The Company affirms that the remuneration is asper the remuneration policy of the Company.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE INCLUDING DETAILSPERTAINING TO BOARD MEETINGS, NOMINATIONAND REMUNERATION POLICY, AUDIT COMMITTEEAND VIGIL MECHANISM
Your Company re-affirms its Commitment to the higheststandards of Corporate Governance practices.Pursuant to SEBI (Listing Obligations and DisclosureRequirements) Regulations 2015, ManagementDiscussion and Analysis, Corporate GovernanceReport and Auditors' Certificate regarding complianceof conditions of Corporate Governance are made apart of this Annual Report.
The Corporate Governance Report which form part ofthis report also covers the following:
a) Particulars of the Five Board Meetings held duringthe financial year.
b) Policy on Nomination and Remuneration ofDirectors, Key Managerial Personnel and SeniorManagement.
c) The details with respect to composition of AuditCommittee and establishment of Vigil Mechanism.
INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROL
The Company has in place adequate internal financialcontrol with reference to financial statements and nomaterial reportable weakness was observed in thesystem. Further, the Company has in place adequateinternal financial control commensurate with the sizeand nature of its d nature of its operations. The Company also hasrobust Budgetary Control System and ManagementInformation System (MIS) which are backbone of theCompany for ensuring that your Company's assetsand interests are safeguarded.
LISTING
The Equity Shares of the Company are listed in BSELimited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited.Listing fees for the year 2026-27 have already beenpaid to BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange ofIndia Limited.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Your Directors wish to thank and acknowledge theBanks, Government Authorities, Dealers, Suppliers,Business Associates and the Company's ValuedCustomers for their assistance and cooperation andthe esteemed Shareholders for their continued trustand support. The Directors also wish to acknowledgethe committed and dedicated team of Aro Granitewhose unstinted work, efforts and ideas have takenthe Company on a path of steady growth anddevelopment.
For and on behalf of the Board
Place: Hosur Managing Director Whole Time Director
Date: 15.05.2026 DIN:00150668 DIN: 07970622