ABB India has kicked off CY2026 on a strong note, delivering a sharp surge in orders and a deeper backlog, even as profits came under pressure from cost and currency volatility in the January–March quarter.
The engineering major reported a 25% jump in orders year-on-year to Rs. 4,280 crore, signaling sustained industrial demand despite a challenging global backdrop. The company’s order backlog rose 17% to Rs. 11,094 crore, strengthening revenue visibility for coming quarters.
“ABB India has built a strong and resilient foundation, anchored in our product, service and technology capabilities. This strength was reflected in a solid first quarter of CY2026, with healthy order traction and revenue growth driven by demand momentum across emerging and core industries.
"Our effective conversion of market opportunities into higher order inflows has further strengthened our diversified order book and enhanced revenue visibility,” said Sanjeev Sharma, Country Head and Managing Director, ABB India.
“Backed by disciplined execution, strong customer engagement and loyalty to ABB India’s offerings, I am confident in our people and operating model as we continue to deliver consistent performance. With these strengths, ABB India is well positioned to capitalise on India’s next industrial capex cycle, even as we navigate a dynamic operating environment.
"We remain on track to achieve our sustainability targets, with continued focus on water stewardship, reduction of GHG emissions and supplier and stakeholder engagement, while reaffirming our commitment to RE100.”
Revenue rose 6% year-on-year to Rs. 3,184 crore, supported by strong performance in electrification and motion segments.
Electrification saw broad-based gains, while motion was driven by low-voltage motors and drives. Automation, however, remained weaker, weighed down by limited opportunities in select core sectors.
ABB highlighted demand strength in emerging areas such as data centres and renewable energy, while traditional heavy industries including metals, mining, energy and chemicals saw slower growth on a high base.
Despite mixed segment performance, execution delays in metals, cement and infrastructure projects reflected timing shifts rather than demand erosion.
The quarter saw multiple strategic wins, including: Power infrastructure for data centres; Metro rail propulsion and power distribution systems; Smart city gas-insulated switchgear projects; Drives and power equipment for metals and solar industries.
ABB also announced a $75 million investment to expand manufacturing and R&D across critical segments such as renewable energy, metro rail, and data centres.
Profitability, however, softened. The company posted a profit before tax of Rs. 462 crore (down from Rs. 614 crore a year earlier) and profit after tax of Rs. 342 crore, impacted by revenue mix changes, lower-margin order execution, input cost inflation, and forex volatility.
“Profitability was impacted by an adverse revenue mix, execution of lower-margin orders, and elevated input costs amid forex volatility and slower project execution,” the company noted.
Operational EBITA declined to Rs. 404 crore, reflecting margin pressure across divisions, particularly automation and motion.
Operational highlights included the rollout of ABB’s $75 million expansion plan, the launch of its next-gen ARTU Formula low-voltage switchgear platform, and major infrastructure deployments including systems for BPCL’s 937-km crude pipeline upgrade and electrification at Noida International Airport.
The company also marked a milestone with its first locally manufactured wind power converter from its Nelamangala facility, strengthening India’s role in ABB’s global wind supply chain.
ABB India ended the quarter with a strong cash position of Rs. 6,042 crore, supporting continued investment and operational stability.
On sustainability, the company reported an ~82% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions versus 2019, along with progress toward 100% renewable electricity usage. It also advanced water stewardship initiatives and expanded certification under the Alliance for Water Stewardship framework.
Despite near-term margin pressure, ABB’s robust order inflow and expanding backlog position it strongly for CY2026, with management pointing to India’s upcoming industrial capex cycle as a key growth driver.
