National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) reported that its first-quarter net profit nearly doubled compared to the same period a year earlier, driven by higher aluminium prices, increased production, and stronger sales volumes.

NALCO is a Navratna central public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, and one of the country's largest integrated producers of aluminium and alumina. Headquartered in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, the company operates across the full aluminium value chain, from bauxite mining and alumina refining to aluminium smelting and casting. Its shares are listed on both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE).

Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange, a global benchmark, have been supported in recent quarters by firm demand from sectors such as construction, automotive, and packaging, alongside constrained supply in some regions. As a producer with captive bauxite mines and its own power generation, NALCO is among the relatively lower-cost aluminium producers, which can amplify the benefit of rising metal prices on its margins. India is the world's second-largest aluminium producer, and NALCO is one of the key domestic players alongside private-sector firms such as Hindalco Industries and Vedanta Aluminium.

Following the earnings announcement, shares of National Aluminium Co Ltd ended at ₹350.10 on the BSE, gaining ₹2.25, or 0.65%, for the session.

Source: CNBC-TV18