Contrary to hints of an economic slowdown, India Inc's order books are overflowing.
Leading the charge are 79 real estate developers and engineering, construction and capital goods manufacturers that accounted for over 94 per cent of total orders received.
In the first 10 months of calendar year 2007, Indian companies received orders worth Rs 128,147 crore (Rs 1281.47 billion). This is 68.6 per cent more than Rs 75,984 crore (Rs 759.84 billion) in the same period a year ago.
Orders have been pouring in from Indian and foreign companies, the central and state governments and local bodies for construction of roads, power plants, refineries, turnkey projects, electronic goods and water and irrigation works.
More than a quarter of the orders (Rs 34,680 crore) came from foreign companies and Rs 42,041 crore (Rs 420.41 billion) came from domestic private companies.
The Centre and state governments were also not far behind. While state governments placed orders worth Rs 38,083 crore (Rs 380.83 billion), the Central government's contribution was Rs 13,343 crore (Rs 133.43 billion).
Analysts say the future looks brighter with the economy growing at around 9 per cent. For example, India plans to add 78,577 Mw of power in the 11th Plan. Around 53,000 Mw of this, or two-thirds of planned capacity additions, is coal-based. This would require investments worth over Rs 10,00,000 crore (Rs 10,000 billion).
The capital goods sector accounted for 52 per cent (Rs 67,018 crore) of the orders. Civil and other engineering sectors were in the second position with an order book of Rs 29,032 crore (Rs 290.32 billion) followed by real estate developers with Rs 24,745 crore (Rs 247.45 billion).
The top 10 firms with the healthiest order book position had a combined order book of Rs 81,282 crore (Rs 812.82 billion). The top five are shown in the table. The other five are IVRCL Infrastructures, ABG Shipyard, Nagarjuna Constructions, Simplex Infrastructures and HCC.
DLF has projects worth Rs 23,000 crore (Rs 230 billion) on hand to develop an integrated township at Durgapur, an information technology special economic zone in Nagpur and an agreement to develop mill land with DCM Shriram Consolidated.
Larsen & Toubro has engineering and construction contracts worth Rs 15,196 crore (Rs 151.96 billion) while Bhel has bagged orders worth Rs 9,400 crore (Rs 94 billion) - a majority of them from power equipment and other capital goods. Suzlon Energy has received orders, mostly exports, worth Rs 8,600 crore (Rs 86 billion).
Outside of these heavy-duty sectors, gems and jewellery exporters were also in good nick. Rajesh Exports has bagged orders worth Rs 1,381 crore (Rs 13.81 billion) for gold and designer jewellery.
Aban Lloyds, Great Offshore, Garware Offshore and Dolphin Offshore received constructions orders from state-owned oil company ONGC to build oil rigs and platforms. Several foreign oil majors have also placed substantial orders.
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