India Inc’s foreign borrowings jump 24% to $9 bn in March

India Inc’s external commercial borrowings jumped by over 24 per cent to $9.23 billion in March this year, RBI data showed.

Indian firms had raised $7.44 billion from the foreign market in the same period a year ago.

Of the total borrowings during March 2021, $5.35 billion came in through the approval route of the external commercial borrowings (ECB), while the rest of $3.88 billion was raked in via the automatic route of raising funds from international markets. No money was raised through the rupee denominated bonds (RDB) or the masala bonds, as was the case in the year-ago period as well.

Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), ONGC Videsh Rovuma and REC Ltd were the three players that raised money in the approval route category.

IRFC raised a total of $3.33 billion in three tranches for the purpose of infrastructure development, while ONGC Videsh Rovuma borrowed $1.6 billion for overseas acquisition.

REC — the infrastructure finance company in power sector — raised $425 million during the month through the ECB facility for the purpose of on-lending.

Among the top borrowers in the automatic route, Adani Hybrid Energy Jaisalmer garnered nearly $1.25 billion in five tranches for its new project; Bharti Airtel raised $750 million as working capital loan; PGP Glass got $360 million to meet its rupee expenditure and NTPC raised $260 million for infrastructure development.

Information services provider Mohalla Tech raised $225 million in three tranches for its working capital requirement; Indian Oil Corporation and MMR Saha Infrastructure received $100 million each for working capital requirement and new project respectively.

Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals borrowed $70 million for rupee expenditure and Oil India raised $50 million against overseas acquisition, showed RBI data.